Residents warned off balconies due to dry rot

Residents of a development in Co Meath have been told not to use balconies in their apartments because of dangers due to wood rot.

In a scenario that has disturbing echoes of the Berkeley tragedy, a building firm doing remedial work has warned residents that it would be “unsafe to allow occupants of the apartments to use these balconies until they have been remediated”.

The Riverwalk Court development — which the Irish Examiner reported earlier this month has major fire safety deficiencies — consists of a three-storey block of apartments and duplexes. Following the discovery of structural flaws an insurance company retained a building firm to do major remedial work, which began in March.