Families of balcony collapse victims lay flowers at Berkeley memorial

The families of some of those killed and injured in the Berkeley balcony collapsed have laid flowers at a memorial to the victims near the scene.

The families were joined by the Diaspora Minister Jimmy Deenihan, who has been sent as the Government representative to Berkeley, and laid a wreath at the memorial site near the apartment block.

Six Irish students died in the tragedy in the early hours of Tuesday morning and seven others remain in hospital in California - two are said to be in a critical condition.

Arrangements are being made to bring home the bodies of five of the students who died.

It has yet to be confirmed if the families got to see the bodies of their loved ones yesterday.

All day yesterday the Consul General said they were dealing with the bureaucratic process and would not confirm or deny if the families had got to see the bodies yet.

However, the coroner's report was released yesterday and that is normally the final part before the bodies can then be given to the undertaker.

There is also the likelihood that they will be repatriated on Sunday through Aer Lingus flights.