No criminal charges will be brought in the case of the Berkeley balcony collapse in California last June that resulted in the death of five Irish students and one Irish American.
The Alameda County District Attorney has announced that her office will NOT be filing criminal charges.
Seven others were injured when the balcony collapsed on June 16th last year.
District Attorney for Alameda County, Nancy O'Malley says having carefully considered all the known evidence, and conducting an in-depth legal analysis based on expert opinion, the Office has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to bring criminal manslaughter charges against any one individual or company.
In a statement this evening, Ms O Malley says this is not a decision she came to lightly
Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs says his Department will carefully consider the details of the District Attorney's findings.
Charlie Flanagan says while the investigation did not find sufficient proof to take separate criminal proceedings, it has shone a vital light on the circumstances and factors that contributed directly and indirectly to the collapse of the balcony.
Minister @CharlieFlanagan comments on findings of
investigation carried out by DA into Berkeley balcony collapse pic.twitter.com/XqJHwDzeN1— IrishForeignMinistry (@dfatirl) March 29, 2016
This investigation is an important step in a process, the ultimate objective of which is to ensure that a tragedy such as Berkeley never occurs again.
Kerry Graye reports:
