Housing union calls for urgent change after two siblings fall from apartment balcony
A housing union in Co Waterford has reiterated calls for urgent improvements to be implemented at Mount Suir following the shocking incident that saw two siblings fall from a second-storey balcony in an apartment complex on Friday morning.It's understood that a three-year-old boy fell approximately 20 feet from an apartment balcony, while his seven-year-old sister also fell as she tried to save her brother from falling. Both siblings were rushed to University Hospital Waterford.A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: "Shortly before 11am this morning, Friday 20 March 2026, Gardaí in Waterford assisted other agencies in responding to a medical emergency at a residential property at Mount Suir, Waterford. An Garda Síochána has no additional information regarding the incident."This afternoon, the Waterford Housing Union released a statement calling for urgent improvements at Mount Suir. This comes mere weeks after the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) arranged a meeting of residents to discuss safety concerns around the maintenance of the property that had previously been raised by a number of residents in recent years.A Mount Suir resident, who lives in Block B, commented: "I wouldn't leave my cat out on the balcony, never mind my daughter. The place is a death trap. I hope those two children will be okay."Residents have repeatedly called for safety improvements at Mount Suir, with CATU welcoming support for collective action to highlight concerns and make vital changes to the current conditions.CATU Waterford Communications Officer Killian Mangan remarked that "a horrible event like this does not happen in isolation. This is due to years of neglect, despite repeated calls from residents for their concerns about safety and conditions to be acknowledged and acted upon. It should not have to take something as terrible as this to happen in order to get those in charge of maintenance to act."In our various engagements with residents as a union, we have seen and heard first-hand the impact that this decaying building is having on the lives of everyone living there. It is past time that residents come together to finally achieve what we all deserve, a safe home."The union intends to keep residents updated on developments and has reiterated calls for locals to join CATU by signing up for membership here.Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here.
