Balconies in housing complex where children fell 20ft being examined

Sarah Slater

All apartment balconies in a Waterford City housing complex where two young siblings were injured following a 20 foot fall are being examined by the local authority.

Waterford City and County Council commenced two investigations on Monday, looking at the condition and safety of the balconies at Mount Suir apartments in Gracedieu, after brother and sister Jayden (3) and Nevaeh (7) O’Neill fell from a balcony in Block C at 10.40am on Friday last.

The siblings fell to the ground when the pane of glass on the balcony railing gave way. They had been playing with two other siblings who were not injured.

The children were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) for treatment of their injuries. Nevaeh was discharged from hospital on Friday night and Jayden returned home to his parents Ryan O’Neill and Regina Smith on Sunday evening.

He narrowly missed falling on a large shard of glass. His family have confirmed that his son suffered a brain bleed and will continue to be monitored by medical staff.

Garda forensic teams examined the balcony from where the children fell in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

A council spokesperson said they are treating the incident with the “utmost seriousness and urgency”.

All apartment balconies in Block C, which is owned by the council will continue to be inspected on Tuesday. The management company of the other blocks, A and B, is also to inspect apartment balconies in their buildings.

The spokesperson outlined that “a comprehensive technical inspection of the condition and safety of all balconies within Block C (is underway), which is in the full ownership and occupation of the local authority.”

A detailed report will then be prepared, and any necessary actions arising from its findings will be implemented.

“Additionally, the council has contacted the property management company responsible for Blocks A and B at Mount Suir to advise of the ongoing inspections.

“The management company has today confirmed that it has also commenced inspections of all balconies within those blocks,” the spokesperson noted.

The council pointed out that it will continue to provide ongoing support to the family, review the circumstances surrounding the incident, and take appropriate steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.