Sir, – This week, as the families of the six students lay their children to rest, we are once again struck by the genuine grief and sympathy expressed not just within their home parishes, schools and colleges but by the whole country and by the people of Berkeley, California.
Our thoughts are also with the students who were injured, including Sean Fahey, and with their families. Aoife Beary, Hannah Waters, Conor Flynn, Jack Halpin, Niall Murray and Clodagh Cogley remain in hospitals in San Francisco. Their families continue to keep a vigil by their bedsides and, we have heard, they are taking great comfort from the outpouring of support from the local communities in Berkeley, as well as from everyone at home.
Since the accident, we have had colleagues on the ground in Berkeley to provide support to these students and their families. They are dealing with the reality of their injuries along with the emotional strain of the loss of their friends. They need, and will continue to receive, our support while they are in the US and when they come home.
We are acutely aware that close friends and students who witnessed the accident are also deeply affected by the trauma. For most of these young people, this is their first experience of the loss of a friend and it can be difficult to deal with such an experience.
Over the past week we have been struck by how well our students have provided support for one another. They have come together in groups and wrapped comforting arms around those who are suffering. They have used their own social media groups to reach out and get in touch with one another.
Our support services are available to provide counselling and ongoing support through the summer and in the academic year ahead and we encourage students who need help to come to us.
We know that some of our students may face a long road of physical and emotional recovery and our colleagues are here to offer support, both now and in the months to come. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW J DEEKS,
President,
University College Dublin;
BRIAN McCRAITH,
President,
Dublin City University,
BRIAN NORTON,
President,
Dublin Institute
of Technology;
ANNIE DOONA,
President,
Institute of Art, Design
and Technology,
Dún Laoghaire;
JAMES BROWNE,
President,
National University
of Ireland Galway;
PATRICK PRENDERGAST,
Provost,
Trinity College Dublin.