July 4th 2023.
Police in Greece are investigating the sudden deaths of 18-year-old schoolboys Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall from Dublin’s St Michael’s College who died while on holiday.
The tragedy has left their friends and schoolmates ‘traumatised’, and many are now flying back to Ireland.
Andrew is believed to have fallen and hit his head while walking home from a night out along cliffs on the island of Ios. Hundreds of other Irish students were holidaying in Ios when Andrew’s body was discovered on Saturday morning. Max died hours later after collapsing at the port.
Police spokesperson Konstantina Dimoglidou told the MailOnline that while Andrew’s injuries suggest he had tripped and fallen, they are also looking into the possibility of criminal negligence. She said that the drinks Andrew and his classmates had consumed may have been tampered with. The post-mortem due to take place in the port city of Pireaus will be ‘pivotal’ in establishing the cause of death.
St Michael’s College Principal Tim Kelleher described Andrew as ‘a fantastic young man, great sportsman, fantastic footballer’ who was academically bright and looking forward to starting university. He described Max as ‘very bright’, ‘passionate about rugby’ and had ‘the world at his feet’.
The school has been devastated by the news and the Irish tricolour and school flag have been flown at half mast outside St Michael’s College. Irish Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: ‘It is devastating and the most traumatic news that any parent could hear and it is every parent’s nightmare.’
He urged those still in Ios to look after each other in ‘the difficult time ahead’. The two boys’ families and classmates are now awaiting the results of the post-mortem for answers to their tragic loss.
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