Devastated schoolchildren have received counselling after the body of classmate Robert Holohan was found close to Inch Strand in Cork, it emerged today.
The Midleton CBS primary school enlisted the help of the National Educational Psychological Service, which provided three trained counsellors.
Principal John Flynn said the counselling services would remain in place over the coming weeks: "People are availing of them and if someone needs them later on, they're only a the phone call away."
He said the school was trying to provide a routine for its 288 boys, many of whom attended classes with the 11-year-old. "We had to establish a routine to get the children back to normal. But today was much harder. We're pretty depressed," he said.
He expressed his condolences to the Holohan family on behalf of the school: "We sympathise completely with the family. They have been fantastic."