Ireland's ambassador to Washington has written to the editor of the New York Times, to protest at an article published on the J1 programme and the deaths of six students in Berkeley.

The article had linked the deaths to a perceived reputation for drinking and partying among Irish J1 students.

It states: "They come by the thousand - Irish students on work visas, many flocking to the West Coast to work in summer jobs by day and to enjoy the often raucous life in a college town at night."

"But the work-visa program that allowed for the exchanges has in recent years become not just a source of aspiration, but also a source of embarrassment for Ireland, marked by a series of high-profile episodes involving drunken partying and the wrecking of apartments in places like San Francisco and Santa Barbara," the article adds.

In her letter, Ambassador Anne Anderson says: "We found some of the language in your article...both insensitive and inaccurate."

"No one yet knows what caused the collapse of the fourth-floor balcony; the matter is under urgent investigation by structural engineers."

"The implication of your article - that the behaviour of the students was in some way a factor in the collapse - has caused deep offence."

Ambassador Anderson adds: "It is quite simply wrong to say that the J1 visa programme is 'a source of embarrassment for Ireland'. On the contrary, we are fully supportive of this programme and we know that it brings enormous mutual benefit."

"At this time of searing grief, the messages of condolence and offers of support which are flooding in to the Embassy and our Consulates are balm to the soul. They reflect far more accurately the feelings of the American people than does your article," she concludes.

McAleese: Paper should be hanging its head in shame

Meanwhile former President Mary McAleese has said the paper "should be hanging its head in shame".

In a letter to the New York Times, Mrs McAleese said: "Tens of thousands of Irish J1 students have spent happy summers there...By far the vast majority have been a credit to Ireland and only the very tiniest minority have not."

"Yet within hours of the most appalling tragedy in the history of the J1 visa program, when the one salient fact to speak for itself is the ludicrous collapse of a fourth floor balcony in a relatively new building, New York Times journalists reached for the lazy tabloid stereotype and heaped deliberate injustice on top of the most awful grief."

"Shame on you", Mrs McAleese added.

The Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has slammed a qualified apology from the paper, calling it "pathetic".

In a statement to Newstalk yesterday, the New York Times said: "It was never our intention to blame the victims and we apologise if the piece left that impression".

Margaret Sullivan is the public affairs editor with the New York Times. She told Newstalk Breakfast that mistakes were made.