Waterford City and County Council say they have launched an urgent investigation following a serious balcony incident involving two children in Waterford city. The incident occurred on Friday, March 20th at Mount Suir Manor, where a three-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl fell from a balcony at Block C.

Children Hospitalised Following Fall

Emergency services transferred both children to University Hospital Waterford for treatment. Medical teams treated the children for injuries sustained in the fall. The younger child has since been discharged, while both continue to receive care and monitoring. The children belong to a family living in social housing provided by the council.

Council Begins Immediate Investigation

The council in a statement said they acted quickly after the incident. Officials launched an immediate investigation to establish exactly what happened. At the same time, the local authority began a full technical inspection of all balconies in Block C. Engineers are now assessing the condition and safety of each balcony. The council will compile a detailed report once inspections conclude and will implement any necessary safety measures.

Inspections Extended to Other Blocks

The council also contacted the property management company responsible for Blocks A and B at Mount Suir. That company has now confirmed it has started its own inspections of balconies in those buildings. This coordinated response aims to ensure that all parts of the complex meet required safety standards.

Ongoing Support for Family

Waterford City and County Council said it is supporting the affected family during this time. Officials emphasised that they are treating the incident with urgency and seriousness. They also committed to reviewing all findings and taking steps to prevent a similar in the future.

Focus on Resident Safety

The incident has raised renewed concerns about balcony safety at the Mount Suir complex. The council says it will continue its investigation and act on the results to ensure the safety of residents across the development. Safety concerns about these blocks' of apartments' have been voiced for several years, with residents speaking to WLR about the conditions of them. For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.