The three young Irish women who were renting the apartment in Berkeley where the fatal balcony collapse happened last summer are suing the apartment managers and owners.

In a court document, Caroline Conlan, Cliodhna Maloney and Aisling Tallon are said to have stepped off the fourth-floor balcony "only by the grace of God" just before the collapse on June 16th last year.

It is claimed the three women suffered "severe mental and emotional harm" after witnessing the collapse that led to the deaths of six people.

“Having had their own lives in grave peril from the collapse, and having seen, heard and felt the collapse of the balcony followed by seeing and hearing their dearest friends plummeted to the ground below, [the] Plaintiffs suffered severe emotion and mental injuries for which they have not recovered,” the document adds.

Apartment owners Blackrock and property managers Greystar are among the defendants named in the document.

The East Bay Times reports that the suit also alleges negligence in the decade before last year's tragedy.

Five students from Dublin - Lorcan Miller, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke, Niccolai Schuster, and Eoghan Culligan - died after falling to the ground when the balcony gave way. 

A sixth student, Ashley Donohoe, who lived in California and was a cousin of Olivia Burke, also died. Seven others were injured, including Aoife Beary (who was also staying in the apartment at the time).

Following a nine-month investigation, it was found that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges over the tragedy.