Famous activist Erin Brockovich offers to help victims and families
RENOWNED activist Erin Brockovich has offered to help the families of the students killed and injured in the Berkeley balcony collapse.
She has teamed up with Dublin law firm Phelim O’Neill Solicitors and wants to meet the families and to give any assistance she can. She could arrive in Dublin to start work as early as this weekend.
The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Police force have ruled out the possibility of them taking any further criminal action.
Environmentalist activist Ms Brockovich, whose life story was the subject of an Oscarwinning film starring Julia Roberts, said she is ‘available to meet with and assist the families, and to advocate for them to find a non-litigious solution in the coming weeks’.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday night, Ms Brockovich wrote: ‘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.
‘Some of those injured would require extensive care before being able to return home and that it was essential that families did not face what I consider as the
additional nightmare of mounting medical bills. I am available to meet with and assist the families, and to advocate for them to find a non-litigious solution in the coming weeks. 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.’
She added: ‘I have partnered with Dublin
law firm Phelim O’Neill solicitors to facilitate families who require any support or assistance.’
Georgina Robinson, a partner in the Dublin 4-based firm, exclusively told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘If she can get her diary right, she’ll be over as soon as possible to help anyone she can help.’
Last night, solicitor Phelim O’Neill told the Mail: ‘This will put a lot of pressure on these corporations to do the right thing and that’s what she’s calling for today.’