The parents of all those killed or injured in the apartment balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, last June have joined in a civil suit against the builders, owners, and management of the building. Six Irish students lost their lives and seven others were injured, some severely. The defendants in the lawsuit number 35.

City of Berkeley inspectors have said that the balcony that collapsed fell because the joints supporting it had suffered severe dry rot due to water damage. In addition to the litigation by the parents seeking damages, there is an ongoing criminal investigation into the lethal incident.

The students were working in Berkeley for the summer, participating in the J-1 visa program. In their lawsuit, the families and the students claim that building owner Black Rock and other

named defendants failed to investigate, inspect, or respond to complaints about water intrusion, wood rot, fruiting bodies and a tilt on the balcony. Attorneys for the students and parents said their clients hope that the legal action alleging wrongdoing would result in “appropriate industry, legislative, and other responses that will be undertaken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.”

‘God Save The Queen’ Headed for Dust Heap?
The tune in question is the national anthem of the United Kingdom, not England alone. And a Chesterfield MP thinks England (or the mainland, as we colonists call it) deserves its own anthem. And all this inside cricket brings up another dicey situation: Shouldn’t Northern Ireland have its own anthem? Currently, the official anthem for the N.I. Commonwealth Games team is “Danny Boy,” and “Ireland’s Call” is played ahead of the rugby team’s games. And to add to the Brit dilemma, there is a growing debate, mostly on talk radio, on what song might replace ‘God Save The Queen’ if Northern Ireland should get its own anthem for sports. The top contenders for the public’s choice: ‘Land of Hope and Glory,’ ‘There’ll Always Be an England,’ ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot,’ and ‘Rule Britannia.’

Of course, the British sporting fraternity could always call U2’s Bono for anthem advice.

Fox Anchor Indicts Obama For Bush Bust
What would our monthly entry be without having to correct the record of the largely truth-less Fox news readers when their fake “news” turns to delusion at the hands of Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes. A case in point, one among many: At the GOP debate on Jan. 14, Neil Cavuto cutely shifted the blame for the 2008 financial crisis from then-outgoing incumbent George W. Bush to President-Elect Obama.

There is nobody, save a few right-wing diehards in a cave in Texas, who believe that Obama (not yet sworn in as president) was responsible for the country’s finances in 2008 or for the unnecessary war that Cheney and Bush lied us into. Yes, the recession is totally owned by Bush, and Cavuto and his Fox puppet colleagues all know that. But that doesn’t stop them from trying to sell yet another false opinion or phony news report.

However, Cavuto’s and Fox’s outrageous attempt to score political points in lieu of truth-telling drew a cascade of economists, academics, news media, and those who cherish facts versus Fox’s sad revisionism to accusing Cavuto and Fox of bias and a total disregard for journalistic honesty. Is anybody surprised?

A second quick point from the same newsroom: Sean Hannity, hosting his weekday Fox show, had all the answers to the Iranians capture and detaining of a US naval ship and its crew for entering their territory. While the folks at the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon were taking a few hours to handle the situation, our desk-bound loudmouth had all the answers anybody, including our military leaders, needed to accomplish the release. Mr. Hannity’s solution, and I quote: “Why don’t they [Obama and John Kerry] just send the message, ‘You either let those people out in three hours or we’re going to bomb the living crap out of you.’ ” Smart stuff, Sean! Thanks and credit to Media Matters, which shadows and reports on Fox and other fiction-driven news outlets.

Free Speech Can Get To Be Expensive
Britain and Ireland, if truth be known, are regarded by many lawyers as soft targets for defamation and libel-lawsuit plaintiffs.  Thousands upon thousands of euros, plus legal fees, exchange hands every week in British and Irish courts in cases where someone who is alleged to have publicly insulted someone is then sued by the so-called injured party who is seeking damages; yes, cold, hard cash.

It is comforting to think that the court systems of two great countries are looking out for insults and similar affronts and are willing to generously order payment or damages to the plaintiff for his/her bruised reputation. But in the real world, say the United States, there is a much greater threshold to gain success and big money settlements. US settlements are tied to motive or intent and evidence of loss.

A recent case being tried now – an alleged libel of a British Ulster Unionist Party MP by a Sinn Fein Stormont Assembly member – could result in damages amounting to a small fortune, plusenormous legal fees. The alleged libel was a tweet on Twitter that stayed up for an hour and was seen by just 167 people, but there you go. A similar libel case came down with a judgment of $150,000 plus assessed legal fees against the defendant. Something to think about, but then maybe that’s the point.

‘Spotlight’ Movie Hits The Spot
I finally had a chance to see “Spotlight,” the filmed story of how the Boston Globe resolutely ran down the Catholic priests abuse scandal and shook up Catholics and their church around the world. I loved the film even as I was saddened by the theme, a reality since 2002 when the story of how Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law and his clerical associates shuttled abusive priests from parish to parish became an international scandal. My only regret is that none of the church big shots were dealt with. As in real life and reel life, all the bishops, cardinals, et al. had immunity.

About the movie itself: We now know that Spotlight has been nominated in six Academy Award categories. If I had a vote, I would add the individuals who can’t be nominated, those casting geniuses who select and suggest actors for a movie. The two people who did that job for Spotlight picked well and wisely. Without the phony heroics of so many films – bullets flying, cars exploding – the ensemble was quietly magnificent. There was no room for Stanley Tucci as attorney Mitchell Garabedian on the marquee, but he was solid, memorable. From Michael Keaton to John Slattery, the cast was outstanding. The story itself was intelligent and largely riveting on film.

Father Peter Daly, a columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, saw the movie alone and he wrote that he was saddened and ashamed. There was one comment in his review that stuck with me: “The Archdiocese of Boston would never have reformed without the Globe stories.”

Still No Action On British Bill Of Rights
In the days before the last British national election, the Conservative Party spoke about introducing a bill that would embed in legislation a ‘Bill of Rights” that would lay out the rights of the British people. Presumably, that would include the Irish living in the North in some cases.

In any event, it has been a while since that quasi-promise was made for the first hundred days of the reelected ruling party’s administration. Here in Boston there was also talk about such legislation If memory serves, the Boston attorney Michael Donlon volunteered to lead some meetings or a conference on the proposal, but the British silence on the subject has left it on the back burner.

Late reports indicate that a draft bill has been prepared and ready for introduction. If so, the call seems to be with the leadership at 10 Downing and Whitehall. Stay tuned.

Last Hurrah For Ireland’s Hero, Chuck Feeney
For over 30 years the compulsively generous benefactor Chuck Feeney, 84, has spent his duty-free-driven fortune around the world. He has given away millions to Vietnam, Cuba, South Africa, and Australia, among other places, but Ireland, north and south, has been his main interest and passion. His total philanthropy is up in the billions, but this year, 2016, will mark the end of Feeney’s three decades of giving to enrich Ireland and other recipients with his smart, well-conceived projects. He has announced that he will finally divest his remaining fortune this year. Over the decades Feeney, through his Atlantic Philanthropies, has given away almost $8 billion, a healthy chunk of that directly to Ireland.

One of Feeney’s guiding principles in philanthropic funding is that private money can take the risks that governments cannot or are unwilling to take. And these have often involved controversial causes. In its final year Feeney and Atlantic will focus on care of the elderly, children’s services, and human rights and reconciliation.

Essentially, Feeney is a private person who likes to avoid the limelight and do his giving anonymously, but that changed when a court case in the 1990s threatened to disclose the details of the disposition of his fortune. He then pre-empted the effort to look into his fortune by going public.

Chuck Feeney has kept the faith with Ireland over the years and when fellow philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates described him as “a hero,” he was spot-on in his assessment.

Baker, Walsh and the GE Move
While the highways and back roads of Iowa and New Hampshire are filled with frenzied Republican candidates for president saying anything they believe will turn a few heads or grab a few votes, the two top elected officials in the Bay State, Republican Governor Charlie Baker and Boston and Connemara’s son and Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are taking care of business at home.

Like the famous Mr. Inside, Heisman Trophy winner Doc Blanchard, and Mr. Outside, Glenn Davis, of the late 1940s golden era of college football at West Point, Charlie and Marty seem to have assumed those roles during the weeks of delicate negotiations with General Electric and the successful selling of the city and state as the new world GE headquarters site.

I will leave it up to our senior citizen readers to decide which man played the inside and outside positions, but the cooperation and good will displayed by Walsh and Baker on the GE project is a keen example of what quiet talk and a fact-based case to make can achieve. Congratulation to both men for keeping their eye on the sparrow: the well-being and commercial future of the commonwealth.

I, Too, Am Very Tired Of Big Pharma On TV
What an industry! We have 5,000 percent increases on a life-saving drug, and a Gilead drug company executive dismisses public outrage at enormous drug cost increases, calling the protesters “an abomination.” And Big Pharma whines about supposedly hefty research costs. Meanwhile, television and print advertising costs for drugs have gone through the roof and now are higher annually than the research costs.

It’s about time that Medicare and similar health plans change the law and start negotiating prices so that US drug costs (and Ireland’s also) are cheaper, as they are able to do in most of Europe.

City Hall Loses A Good Man
Howard Leibowitz, 63, died late in December of a heart attack at his Jamaica Plain home. He was a key figure in two city administrations covering a quarter century. Between deadlines and some health issues, I never got a chance to say goodbye to him in print. Howie was often the busiest man in the mayor’s office. He handled all the tough jobs, the inter-governmental relations, policy problems, the people pressing for the mayor’s ear, urgent issues, and the last-minute Gotcha problems that beset high level elected officials. Howie was invariably kind, generous, and he made time to hear your problem or solutions. He was a ray of hope and energy for the homeless and a dedicated advocate for affordable housing. One characteristic that I will always remember is that he cared, really cared, and much of that compassion was for people grappling with hard times, poverty, unemployment, etc.

During my time in City Hall, Howie always had time to listen, even when he didn’t. He served Mayors Flynn and Menino honorably, with long hours and with compassion, energy and creativity. Howie was a hero to many of us and I am sorry he left so soon. He was what public service at its best is all about.

Belfast Remembers The Nazi Blitz of ‘41
While there will be commemorative events marking the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, the good people of Belfast will also be marking a somber anniversary this spring: the German Luftwaffe’s bombings of Belfast that killed more than a thousand people in April 1941.

The prime targets of the German bombers were the shipyard, Shorts aircraft plant, Mackies, and the linen works. Although industrial sites were targeted, the worst of the bombing was in the north of the city, where thousands of civilians were left homeless.

A number of events recalling the blitz and a memorial to the lives lost 75 years ago are in the final planning stage. There are also likely to be services at St. Anne’s Cathedral and Belfast City Hall.

RANDOM CLIPPINGS
Retired Stormont First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson has won the Tipperary International Peace Award. Past recipients include the Pakistani activist Malala and Nelson Mandela. Other nominees for the award were Mary Robinson, Angela Merkel, John Kerry and former Israeli President Shimon Peres. … Salmon stocks, the Irish Independent reports, on the Fane River near Dundalk are on the brink of being wiped out due to diesel pollution by IRA launderers. … Update: Former Anglo Irish Bank chief David Drumm has gone 0 for 4 with judges in American courts in the past year. … Studies are showing that migrants provide more to host states in taxes and social contributions than they receive in benefits. … The timing of a referendum on a British exit from the EU is scheduled for the end of 2017, but the vote could happen this summer. … Galway’s mayor has announced that the city will be certified as a “bilingual status” city. … Irish Labor Party Leader Joan Burton will support Michael D. Higgins if he decides to run for a second 7-year term as Irish president . … It seems that Dublin’s street entertainers, the buskers, have been the target of complaints from some businesses in the capital city for blocking access and for making bad music.

Coming up to two decades after the Good Friday Agreement, there is still an average of four bomb scares every week. … The political promise game in Ireland has begun with Fine Gael and other parties offering young families as much as 2,800 euros more in the new budget, increased benefits for pensioners, and improved living standards for 124,000 workers. … British entertainment writers and mags have begun employing the “shifting nationality syndrome,” where Irish actors who win or are up for major awards suddenly become British in nationality. … Little Rhode Island, with its vigorous contingent of Irish (some 190,000 residents are of Irish ancestry) will center its commemoration of the 1916 Rising in Patrick’s Pub on Smith Street in Providence and at other venues. … Britain’s Supreme Court has ruled against Donald Trump in his effort to stop an offshore wind farm from being set up near his upscale Scottish golf resort.

In case you missed it, a judge has ruled that Fontbonne Academy in Milton discriminated by rescinding a job offer to a man in a same sex marriage. … Stormont, the N.I. seat of legislative government, is facing a $3.3 billion debt. Is there still a hue and cry about a united Ireland?  On the International Peace Wall in West Belfast, the city will replace its more contentious murals with images of the 1916 Rising. … P.J. O’Mara was a larger than life character in Irish politics. For years he was Charlie Haughey’s press officer and a major figure in Fianna Fail politics for over three decades. I knew him a bit and P.J. had as much charm and more institutional memory than the Boss.