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| Berkeley balcony collapse to be investigated by US prosecutors | Berkeley balcony collapse to be investigated by US prosecutors |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US prosecutors have launched an investigation into the balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, that killed six students as the family of the final victim to be buried revealed that a postcard from him had arrived home after his death. | US prosecutors have launched an investigation into the balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, that killed six students as the family of the final victim to be buried revealed that a postcard from him had arrived home after his death. |
| Lorcan Miller’s father, Ken, showed the card to mourners at Rathmichael parish church in Shankill south, County Dublin, on Thursday. | Lorcan Miller’s father, Ken, showed the card to mourners at Rathmichael parish church in Shankill south, County Dublin, on Thursday. |
| On its front was the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, where the 21-year-old medical student had started work this summer. It only arrived on Tuesday, almost a week after he was killed. | On its front was the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, where the 21-year-old medical student had started work this summer. It only arrived on Tuesday, almost a week after he was killed. |
| The postcard read: “As part of my job I have to talk with customers and I always tell them about my amazing brother and sisters and how much I miss them.” Miller had signed the card with 12 kisses. | The postcard read: “As part of my job I have to talk with customers and I always tell them about my amazing brother and sisters and how much I miss them.” Miller had signed the card with 12 kisses. |
| During the funeral, Ken Miller broke down as he paid an emotional tribute to his “truly remarkable” son. “Lorcan was an extrovert who loved life and wasn’t afraid to try new things,” he told the congregation. “He threw everything he had into everything he did.” | During the funeral, Ken Miller broke down as he paid an emotional tribute to his “truly remarkable” son. “Lorcan was an extrovert who loved life and wasn’t afraid to try new things,” he told the congregation. “He threw everything he had into everything he did.” |
| Meanwhile, Conor Flynn, a 22-year-old Dublin student injured in the incident, was released from the John Muir medical centre in Walnut Creek, California. Flynn will remain in the San Francisco Bay area for a few weeks until he is able to fly home. | Meanwhile, Conor Flynn, a 22-year-old Dublin student injured in the incident, was released from the John Muir medical centre in Walnut Creek, California. Flynn will remain in the San Francisco Bay area for a few weeks until he is able to fly home. |
| Related: Berkeley student deaths: city attempts to piece together why balcony collapsed | Related: Berkeley student deaths: city attempts to piece together why balcony collapsed |
| Sean Fahey was the first student to be discharged from hospital on Sunday and is already home in Ireland. | Sean Fahey was the first student to be discharged from hospital on Sunday and is already home in Ireland. |
| Six young people fell 12 metres (40ft) to their deaths while seven were hurt when the balcony they were on came away from the exterior wall of an apartment block on the Berkeley campus of the University of California. Five of the dead were Irish students; one had dual US-Irish nationality. | |
| Berkeley city officials played down the prospects of criminal charges being pursued, but Alameda County’s deputy district attorney, Teresa Drenick, told Reuters that prosecutors would continue to investigate. | Berkeley city officials played down the prospects of criminal charges being pursued, but Alameda County’s deputy district attorney, Teresa Drenick, told Reuters that prosecutors would continue to investigate. |
| Potential targets could include the general contractor for the apartment building or the company that applied a waterproof membrane to the balcony, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. | Potential targets could include the general contractor for the apartment building or the company that applied a waterproof membrane to the balcony, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. |
| On Wednesday, one of the survivors posted a message on Facebook saying she may never walk again. Clodagh Cogley, 21, from Dublin, said she had sustained two collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, a broken knee, five broken ribs and a broken spinal cord. | On Wednesday, one of the survivors posted a message on Facebook saying she may never walk again. Clodagh Cogley, 21, from Dublin, said she had sustained two collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, a broken knee, five broken ribs and a broken spinal cord. |
| “Life is short and I intend to honour those who died by living the happiest and most fulfilling life possible,” she wrote. “Who knows, maybe legs have been holding me back all these years and I’ll realise my talent for wheelchair basketball.” | “Life is short and I intend to honour those who died by living the happiest and most fulfilling life possible,” she wrote. “Who knows, maybe legs have been holding me back all these years and I’ll realise my talent for wheelchair basketball.” |
| The American environmental activist Erin Brockovich has offered her support and campaign advice to the families of th ose who died. | The American environmental activist Erin Brockovich has offered her support and campaign advice to the families of th ose who died. |
| In a statement released on Facebook, the campaigner – who helped bring a case against a California utilities company in 1993 for poisoning a town’s water for more than 30 years – said she was prepared to meet and assist the families. | |
| Brockovich said she had linked up with Dublin law firm Phelim O’Neill to help any family members “as they begin their search for answers, explanations and justice”. | |
| “I urge immediate action on the costs for Berkeley families. The company behind the construction of the Berkeley apartment block should take action to ensure that the families of those involved in the balcony collapse disaster are not left with enormous medical bills as a result of the faulty construction,” she said. | “I urge immediate action on the costs for Berkeley families. The company behind the construction of the Berkeley apartment block should take action to ensure that the families of those involved in the balcony collapse disaster are not left with enormous medical bills as a result of the faulty construction,” she said. |
| Some of those injured would need extensive care before being able to return home, and it was essential the families did not face what Brockovich called the “additional nightmare of mounting medical bills”. | Some of those injured would need extensive care before being able to return home, and it was essential the families did not face what Brockovich called the “additional nightmare of mounting medical bills”. |
| Brockovich added: “As a Californian, I am devastated that these young visitors to our shores were caught up in this horrific situation. My heart goes out to their families, friends and loved ones, and along with all of the people of California, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Ireland.” | Brockovich added: “As a Californian, I am devastated that these young visitors to our shores were caught up in this horrific situation. My heart goes out to their families, friends and loved ones, and along with all of the people of California, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Ireland.” |