10-year anniversary of Irish students killed in Berkeley balcony collapse

Sarah Slater

A memorial plaque with the words, “They lived and laughed and loved and left,” marks the site close to where six Irish students lost their lives 10 years ago today in Berkeley, California.

All but one of those who died were J-1 students in the US working for the summer in 2015 and they were Lorcán Miller, Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan, and cousins Olivia Burke and Ashley Donohoe who was Irish American.

All who died in the collapse were aged 21.

Aoife Beary, 27, who survived the Berkeley balcony collapse tragedy which claimed the lives of her six friends in the US passed away on New Year’s Day, 2022 at Beaumont Hospital after suffering a stroke.

She became the seventh victim to die as a result of injuries suffered in the Library Gardens Balcony Collapse.

Ms Beary and six other students suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the incident which occurred while they were celebrating Ms Beary’s 21st birthday on the balcony as they lined up to give her kisses.

Clodagh Cogley, Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Jack Halpin, Niall Murray and Hannah Waters were all injured - some seriously in the balcony collapse.

Despite her multiple injuries, Ms Beary campaigned alongside Ashley Donohoe’s family to force building companies to release public safety records and report any work-related crimes or settlements to California’s building regulator.

She testified before the California state legislature in 2016 saying: “Now my birthday will always be their anniversary,” she said.

At an emotional hearing in August 2016, Ms Beary told US politicians that,“Some of my injuries will be with me for the rest of my life”.

The US district attorney’s office confirmed in 2016 that no criminal charges would be brought over the balcony collapse.

However, the families affected sued those involved in the construction and management of the building. They reached a partial settlement of €18 million in 2017.