LAST UPDATE | 19 Apr

TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has said he is “eager to be in a position to apologise” to the families of those killed in the Stardust fire tragedy and has invited them to meet with him tomorrow. 

Harris has spoken to the two coalition party leaders and members of the opposition. 

He will meet with the families tomorrow morning, where it is expected the Taoiseach will personally apologise.

He will seek to address the Dáil on Tuesday regarding Stardust, where it is expected he will make a formal state apology, contingent on whether it is to the satisfaction of the families he speaks with tomorrow. 

Yesterday afternoon, the jury in the Stardust inquests delivered a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of all 48 victims who died in the fire in 1981.

A majority decision from the jury of seven women and five men found the blaze started due to an electrical fault in the hot press of the bar.

Families of the 48 young people who died have called for an official state apology.

This morning, Susan Behan, whose brother John Colgan was among those killed, said the Government should issue an official state apology, describing it as “the right thing to do”.

Harris has said he hopes to meet with the families tomorrow.

He said he is “eager to be in a position to apologise to these families”, but wanted to meet them first.

“I have reached out to the families today and I have offered to meet them tomorrow,” he told media while attending an event in Co Carlow.

“I am very keen to meet with the families and very conscious that these families have felt unheard for decades, and I want to make sure that they know that I’m listening, that I want to hear them and, of course, I want to be in a position as Taoiseach to apologise on behalf of this country, but I think the most appropriate thing to do is to meet with them,” he said. 

Harris said he spoke to Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan yesterday following the verdict.

“I have reached out today to offer to meet the families tomorrow, if that works for them, or if not at another time of their choosing,” he said.

“I am eager to be in a position to apologise to these families but I think it’s right and proper that I meet them first.”

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald will meet with the Stardust families tomorrow morning, ahead of a Sinn Féin motion being brought to the Dáil next week which will call for a full State apology to the families.

Asked about further investigations into Stardust, Harris said: “I am aware that the gardaí will be reviewing the coroner’s report, that’s right and proper that they do.

“I am also conscious that my colleague, the Minister for Justice, will ask the Attorney General to consider the report from the coroner as well.

“As Taoiseach, I feel very strongly that it is important that the State recognises the pain, the suffering and the trauma, and the appalling long time these families have had to work, campaign and fight for truth and justice.”

An Garda Síochána said yesterday afternoon that, “along with everybody else”, it has “just been made aware of the jury’s verdict in the Stardust inquiry”.

“An Garda Síochána will now await the Coroner’s Report on the matter,” a spokesperson said. 

“The thoughts of all in An Garda Síochána are with the families of the victims, as well as the survivors of the Stardust tragedy.”

Earlier today, Behan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland: “I feel it’s important for us because I think we were ignored. I really do feel we were ignored. I feel they were so disrespectful to us.

“We were left to our own devices, that shouldn’t have been the case, so now it shouldn’t be a big deal for them to turn around and say ‘we’re sorry, we got it wrong’, and apologise to us.

“It’s the very least they could do and it shouldn’t take them a long time to know what to do.

“Do the right thing and give the public apology. We deserve it. Our loved ones deserve it.”

She said the verdict yesterday “meant so much to finally hear our loved ones were unlawfully killed”.

“So many emotions. It’s been such a long time coming,” she said.

“When we heard it, it was just unreal. All those emotions, 43 years, then we finally, finally hear those words. It was just unbelievable. It really was.

“It’s very hard to put it into words to be honest because this morning I actually can’t believe it. So relieved that finally we have the justice we deserved.”

Taoiseach’s statement

In a statement yesterday, Harris said the Stardust tragedy was one of the “darkest moments in our history” and described it as a “heart-breaking tragedy”.

“Today we remember the 48 people who lost their lives, all those who were injured, and all those whose lives were marked forever by the tragedy,” the Taoiseach said.

“For over four decades, the families of the victims have carried the weight of this tragedy with unwavering strength and dignity.

“Their relentless pursuit of truth and accountability, their profound commitment to justice, even in the face of overwhelming challenges and setbacks, was not only a fight for their loved ones but a campaign to ensure that such a disaster never happens again,” the statement read.

The Taoiseach continued: “Their courageous campaign demands our respect and our support.

“They never stopped searching for answers, for justice, and for some form of peace.

“We best honour all those who died by ensuring that the voices of their loved ones are heard and acted upon.”

He acknowledged and thanked the coroner, her team and the jurors.

His statement concluded:

“48 young people never came home that night, but as Taoiseach I want to say this to their families; You never gave up on justice for them, you never let Ireland forget about them. They were never alone, and our country owes you a great debt for that.”

Includes reporting by Press Association