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Jeff Chiu/AP/PA

District attorney to examine balcony collapse as report blames rotten wood

Berkeley Police Department has said no criminal investigation is being carried out.

THE ALAMEDA COUNTY district attorney’s office in California has confirmed it will look into the Berkeley balcony collapse as a report yesterday found severe dry rot in the wooden beams of a balcony which collapsed, killing six Irish students and injuring another seven.

The preliminary report by the City of Berkeley concluded the beams had been badly rotted by water damage.

The Los Angeles Times reports the county’s district attorney’s office said it was “reaching out to the city of Berkeley and our office will begin looking at this matter”.

The office has the power to organise a grand jury investigation into incidents like this if deemed appropriate. However it has not given details of the nature of its inquiries and said no formal investigation has been launched.

No criminal investigation 

Berkeley Police Department has confirmed it is not carrying out a criminal investigation into the tragedy or any particular person and the city has now closed its own investigation.

Based on inspectors observations in the report published yesterday, it has been recommended that the city council adopt new and modified regulations to improve the safety of all current and future buildings in Berkeley.

The Building and Safety Division also offered their “deepest condolences to the families and friends” of the students.

Laid to rest

Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Ashley Donohoe, Lorcán Miller, Niccolai Schuster and Eimear Walsh were killed in the incident on 16 June, when the balcony they were standing on collapsed. They were all J1 students and were attending a 21st birthday party.

The funerals of Eimear Walsh and Eoghan Culligan were held yesterday in Dublin. Masses for Niccolai Schuster and Olivia Burke will be held today and Lorcán Miller’s funeral takes place tomorrow.

Six of those who were on the balcony when it collapsed remain in hospital while 21-year-old Sean Fahey is due to fly home to Dublin in the coming days.

Read: Report on Berkeley balcony collapse finds wooden beams had severe dry rot>

Read: Eimear Walsh funeral hears of kind-hearted, generous and fun-loving young woman>

Read: ‘Eoghan was our translator, sense-maker and peacemaker. He was our wiser brother’>

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    Mute Paddy Dunne11
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    Apr 28th 2017, 7:34 AM

    Now thats what i call a perfect house… Fab!!

    190
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    Mute YouHaveGotToBeJoking
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    Apr 28th 2017, 8:12 AM

    Wouldn’t mind – Considering you can pay 1-1.3 mil for a 4 bed semi detached these days that seems like a bargain given location, styling and BER.

    89
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    Mute Eimear
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    Apr 28th 2017, 7:58 AM

    Succchhh property porn.

    63
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    Mute SkylineSi
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    Apr 28th 2017, 9:23 AM

    Looks amazing. I believe that was my great grandparent’s family home way back.

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    Mute Dub_Right
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    Apr 28th 2017, 12:19 PM

    Thanks for the dream Journal.ie!

    A home now for the 1% ‘ers only!

    26
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    Mute YouHaveGotToBeJoking
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    Apr 28th 2017, 2:05 PM

    @Dub_Right: Only a €240,000 deposit and your sorted! As long as your earning over €600,000 a year to get the mortgage for it!!!!!!

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    Mute Ciaran Whyte
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    Apr 28th 2017, 4:29 PM

    @Dub_Right: the 1% of the 1%ers

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    Mute Donal Proctor
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    Apr 30th 2017, 9:39 AM

    @Dub_Right: Walking around some of neighborhood houses in Dalkey and Killiney you help but feel that little chip of jealousy with the knowledge you wouldn’t even be able to afford the heating bill. How id to love to be rich

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    Mute Phyl Walsh
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    Apr 29th 2017, 12:23 PM

    Since when did Killiney Road become Dalkey?

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    Mute Donal Proctor
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    Apr 30th 2017, 9:27 AM

    @Phyl Walsh: I know its right beside killiney castle too. No need to reemphasise the work Killiney

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    Mute Chef Harold
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    Apr 30th 2017, 10:37 AM

    @Phyl Walsh: One side is Dalkey, the other Killiney according to eircode

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    Mute Donal Proctor
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    Apr 30th 2017, 11:11 AM

    @Chef Harold: https://www.townlands.ie/dublin/rathdown/dalkey/dalkey/#map your right its a little confusing

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    Mute Donal Proctor
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    Apr 30th 2017, 9:10 AM

    Clonlost. Used be own by the Legionaires of Christ. They used to run a youth club for boys 11 to 14 years old from tgat house. Its 3 storeys from memory when you include the basement. Used to run activities for movie making, disk jockeying, sports, outdoor activities. Needless to say I left because it became quite religious plus there as no birds allowed. The priests and brothers were sound though with no funny business if you get my meaning. That was 25 years ago. Weird, cant imagine parents allowing their kids to join a club like that anymore. Refurbished house looks great by the way.

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    Mute Ryan Comiskey
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    Apr 30th 2017, 3:00 PM

    Nice – pity it’s in Dalkey.

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