Berkeley tragedy: Over $300,000 raised for family and friends

More than $300,000 (€264,500) has been donated to a fund providing assistance to families of students killed and others directly affected by the Berkeley tragedy in California.

The Irish J1 Berkeley Tragedy Fund, set up by the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco following the balcony collapse which killed six students, had raised more than $200,800 ( €176,870) in online donations by Monday morning.

Six students were killed and seven injured when a fourth-floor balcony they were standing on collapsed at a 21st birthday party in Berkeley on June 16th.

The American Ireland Fund, which said the incident had a profound affect on the Irish at home and abroad, donated $100,000 (€88,000) last week to “support those who are providing care and assistance on the ground, in particular the San Francisco Irish Pastoral Center”.

Target far surpassed

The centre's gofundme.com page, which originally aimed to raise €50,000 to support those affected by the tragedy, has far surpassed its original target, with donations continuing to rise on Monday.

The page states the tax-deductible donations would be used “to support and assist the immediate needs of the families and students in Berkeley”.

The centre posted an updated message on Sunday, thanking donors for their “incredible support”, adding many people “felt deeply touched by this unimaginable tragedy”.

A number of books of condolence remain open around the State for those who wish to convey their sympathies to those affected by the tragedy.

The University College Dublin (UCD) book of condolence, which opened to students online last week and has been signed more than 20,000 times, will remain open until Friday, June 26th.

A spokeswoman for UCD said copies of the book would be printed out and presented to the families of the six students who died after “an appropriate period of time”.

Private meeting

Copies of the book of condolence which opened at the Mansion House in Dublin last week are due to be presented to the families by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke in a private meeting.

The book of condolence at St Patrick’s Cathedral, which opened the morning after the tragedy, will remain open to the public until after the funerals of the six students.

At City Hall in Cork, the book of condolence will be open during business hours until July 1st.

A book is also available until 4pm each day this week at Galway City Council’s offices.

Belfast City Council opened a book of condolence on Monday morning at City Hall. The book is scheduled to stay open until after the funerals.

The remains of Olivia Burke, one of the victims, arrived at Dublin Airport on Monday morning.

Her funeral Mass will take place at 11am on Wednesday at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Foxrock, followed by burial in Deansgrange Cemetery.

The remains of Eoghan Culligan, Lorcán Miller, Niccolai Schuster and Eimear Walsh were returned to Ireland on Sunday.

Mr Culligan’s funeral will be held at the Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham, at 11am on Tuesday and he is to be buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold’s Cross.

Mr Schuster’s funeral will take place at the Church of the Three Patrons, Rathgar on Wednesday at 11am followed by cremation at Mount Jerome.

Ms Walsh’s funeral will take place at 11am on Tuesday, at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Foxrock followed by burial at Shanganagh Cemetery.

The plan at present is for a Government Minister to attend each of the funerals taking place this week.

Ashley Donohoe, an Irish-American citizen of Dublin parents, was laid to rest near her hometown of Rohert Park, north of San Francisco, on Saturday.