Three Irish students set to sue following Berkeley balcony tragedy

Three Irish students who narrowly escaped with their lives following the Berkeley tragedy last summer have taken legal action against two of the companies involved in the incident.

Blackrock, the proprietors of the Library Gardens apartments, and Greystar, the Library Gardens managers are being sued by Aisling Tallon, Caroline Conlan and Cliodhna Maloney who claim they suffered 'severe mental and emotional harm' as a result of the harrowing event.

According to RTÉ, the three young women stepped off the fourth floor balcony mere moments before it collapsed during a 21st birthday party on June 16th in an incident which claimed the lives of five Irish J1 students and one Irish-American student.

The students, who shared an apartment with another of the tragedy's survivors, have initiated legal proceedings in the California Superior Court in Almeda County, saying they 'seen, heard and felt the collapse of the balcony, followed by seeing and hearing their dearest friends plummet to the ground below".

According to attorneys representing the three Irish women, the balcony had exhibited signs of severe water damage for more than ten years – something which the owners of the property are purported to have been aware of.

Ashley Donohoe, Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcán Miller and Eimear Walsh all lost their lives in last summer's tragedy.