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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL has today confirmed that fresh inquests will be held into the 48 deaths at the 1981 Stardust fire.
The families, through their lawyers Phoenix Law, made a formal application for a fresh investigation by way of an inquest in April of this year.
In the early hours of 14 February 1981, a devastating fire ripped through the Stardust fire in Artane, north Dublin. 48 people died, and over 200 were injured.
“The Attorney General has today confirmed that our clients’ application for a fresh inquest has been successful,” Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, who acts for the Stardust Truth and Justice Committee said.
“The families are delighted with today’s decision, however would ask that their privacy is respected tonight.”
In a statement this evening, the Office of the Attorney General said he has “formed the opinion that fresh inquests into the Stardust deaths are advisable”.
This is because he considers that in the original inquests there was an insufficiency of inquiry as to how the deaths occurred, namely, a failure to sufficiently consider those of the surrounding circumstances that concern the cause of the fire.
“The Attorney General is thus satisfied that the holding of fresh inquests is, on balance, in the public interest and in the interests of justice.”
Following the fire, the subsequent Tribunal of Inquiry heard that a practice of locking emergency exits had existed at the Stardust and that, on the night of the fire, one of these exits had remained locked the entire evening.
It suggested that the fire started in a side alcove away from the main ballroom of the nightclub, but other evidence highlighted by the families in recent times has claimed it started in the roof space.
That Tribunal also found that arson was the probable cause of the fire, despite no evidence that the fire had been started deliberately. No arsonist was ever apprehended.
After families renewed their fight to get justice for their loved ones from the early 2000s, a subsequent inquiry in 2009 recommended that arson be formally struck from the Dáil record and acknowledged it as not being the cause of the fire.
Retired judge Pat McCartan was then tasked in 2017 with examining whether there would be grounds to hold a new inquest into the fire. He ruled that a new inquiry was not warranted, saying there was no new evidence.
Families, however, do believe they have strong evidence and have been calling for a fresh inquests to finally get onto the path to secure definitive answers on what happened to their loved ones.
Reacting to the news of the inquests, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “This is a significant achievement for the families and the campaign and I congratulate them wholeheartedly.
“Granting a fresh inquest is the right thing to do. It will hopefully be a major advance in the campaign for truth and justice for the families of those who lost their loved ones on that tragic St Valentine’s night in 1981.”
With reporting by Sean Murray
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About time. Hopefully this time justice will be done for the 48
@Antoinette Burke: Maybe we will uncover the shareholder Haughey in Kinsealy was the reason nothing was allowed to progress
Good
About time too. And this time can we have the TRUTH.
At last! An absolute scandal that these families have had no closure or indeed justice for nearly 40 years!
@Chris Jordan: FFG at its finest.
yep, Bertie Ahern paid the families lip service for the entire 10 years he was Taoiseach promising them he ‘would look into it’ and then nothing happens. This goes back to Haughey protecting his mates, the cover up of the deaths of 48 young people par for the course for Fianna Fail
Everyone who lives or lived in the area knows who was at fault. They had too many powerful friends at the time.
@dB O’Neill: I don’t know if it was enough friends, I think it was more enough money to grease the palms of “friends”
@Neilus-Maximus Decimus Meridius McDermott: one of his ‘friends’ came down that night to see what had happened, in a government chauffeur driven Mercedes. Either way that person will never have to answer a question as they have passed on.
About bloody time. Definitely something covered up
Lived in kilbarrack at the time remember the sadness, defo cover up and shame it’s taken so long to investigate.
I understand their pain & hopefully the truth will come out so someone will be prosecuted (not likely).
But this has to be the last time. It can’t be good for them doing this non stop.
Great news ,but only though years of campaigning by the familys of the dead not by any government .
see what happens when Charlie Haugheyy is not around to protect his friends.straight to justice
Elections must be on they way.
It’s about bloody time ⌚
It’s a long time may they all rest in peace .
Thank goodness. So long coming for the families. Great day indeed.
And the Butterlys have lived in luxury ever since. Decide who’s wrong nearly 40 years later. Typical republic
Hope they get the answers and prosecutions they all deserve.
This is big news ……congrats to the families .
I was the first journalist on the scene early Saturday morning. I lived nearby and worked for Independent News & Media. My news editor, John Healy rang me and asked me to go to the nightclub on Kilmore road. Devastating, shocking.
Chaos ensued as news of the tragedy reached the tight knit communities of Coolock, Bonnybrook and surrounding areas.
Remains of the deceased were removed to the City morgue, beside Store Street Garda Station, and various hospitals.
What a Great Day for the Families of the Victims of this Terrible Tragedy hopefully they get the justice they’ve fought for for so long
Pitiful. Why do we elect time after time the same politicians.
Absolutely scandalous that these family’s have been left this long with any answers and compensation
It only took him back over 30 years. Cover up Ireland
want confirmation from the AG
@steve white: personally? It states first line in the article that the AG confirmed it
@steve white: incase you missed it:
“THE ATTORNEY GENERAL has today confirmed that a fresh inquest will be held into the 48 deaths at the 1981 Stardust fire.”
I was just after having my son and the nurse came in at 6am and said something terrible had happened…. Bitter sweet. Its been Way way too long for this to be sorted
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