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RELATIVES OF PEOPLE who died in the Stardust fire have put the Attorney General on notice that they are seeking a fresh inquest into the tragedy.
The families are hopeful that this effort will lead to a different finding to the original coroner’s report which did not record a verdict concerning the deaths.
A total of 48 people died and 214 were injured in fire in the nightclub in the Dublin suburb of Artane on St. Valentine’s Day in 1981.
In the aftermath of the fire, a tribunal of inquiry was set up under Justice Ronan Keane. However, the families rejected the findings which said arson was the ‘probable cause’ of the fire which began in the west alcove of the building.
An application is to be made to the Attorney General who decides if a fresh inquest is warranted.
The families will hold a press conference today alongside Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan and their solicitor by Darragh Mackin of KRW Law.
“The test is whether or not it’s advisable and in light of the inquiry report and the two reviews that have been conducted,” Mackin explains.
“It gives rise to fresh evidence and witnesses that were not called before the initial inquest and therefore should be considered in a fresh inquest coming to a conclusion.”
Last year, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan decided against another enquiry, following the recommendation of retired judge Pat McCartan who reviewed new evidence in the case.
The new evidence came to light as a result of years of campaigning by families and work by researcher Geraldine Foy and others.
Now families want a fresh inquest undertaken with Mackin saying that the threshold for the holding a new inquest is lower than that for an inquiry.
“The McCartan review determined that there was new evidence, not new evidence that warranted a reopening of a fresh inquiry, the threshold for opening a new inquiry is very high,” he said.
What it did however conclude is that there’s a fresh witness who could give relevant evidence and whom he never got to speak to and that as it stands that evidence remains in doubt and the reality is when there’s evidence of that kind is available a Coroner’s Inquest should deal with it.
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@Rosie O’Boyle: Thank God nobody asked you. There needs to be inquest to get to the truth on this tragedy, So many lies and cover ups.
RIP The Stardust 48.
@Brendan McDermott: there already has been, along with numerous other investigations, reviews, inquiries.
@Vocal Outrage: and all new information has been ignored as if it didn’t exist. It was covered up back then and continues to be covered up today.
@Vocal Outrage: Yes and the truth has never come out. The people need the truth to come out and stop the cover ups by FF. It was easier to accept the first inquiries and allow the owners to claim insurance.
Few spelling mistakes badly written…
A terrible tragedy to be sure but a Waste of tax payers money if you ask me …
@Rosie O’Boyle: Shame on you, spelling mistakes are insignificant compared to the rest of your comment regarding an inquiry being a waste of tax payers money. You have obviously never lost a loved one to realise that no amount of cash will ever bring them back. 48 young people died in a most horrible manner.
@Rosie O’Boyle: go away Rosie.
@Shane McGrath: immense amount of sympathy for the families, and I can understand their push for it but at this point the fire has been investigated numerous times and unfortunately the families campaign now just seems to be becoming a case of ‘I’ll keep asking the question until I get the answer I want’
@Rosie O’Boyle: your a waste of tax payers money ! This is more than a tragedy, its a cover up and an injustice beyond belief. If you had been there on that night or had a family member die or scared for life because of it you would be saying things differently. I hope I never meet you in person.
@Rosie O’Boyle: you should be ashamed of yourself Rosie my god they died family’s were torn apart from this Butterly The. Stardust owner never even said sorry to the family’s of the 48 who lost there lives he was a good friend of Charles Haughty need I say any more justice has to be got and the family’s need it so they can Rest In Peace god bless the family’s my heart breaks for them .
@Rosie O’Boyle: By you comment I don’t think you were around here when the Stardust happened, over the year’s its been a big cover up, just like everything in the Country. Families cannot rest until they have answers, you need to go an take a good luck in the mirror and be thankful it wasn’t one of your family.
@Rosie O’Boyle: ah Rosie. A ricer nose was never picked.
@Rosie O’Boyle: As someone who grew up with the victims, who played football with more than one and had been in that kip of a nightclub just a week before I can tell you the taxpayer could get nothing more valuable than the truth about what really happened that night; the fact that the innocent were collectively slandered by the verdict of ‘arson’ and given derisory compensation, while the Butterleys- establishment cronies- actually profited from their callous disregard for public safety, which I saw in the form of padlocked firedoors the previous week, has always informed my view of the Irish state and all its workings. I guarantee that you, Rosie- the nation itself- would get some education if the truth, the whole truth, finally comes out, and it would be taxes well spent for the lesson.
go away rosie
A pointless waste of Time & Money.. time to let it Go !.. RIP
@TheJeff: Jesus Christ @thejournal, take down these posts, the families don’t need to be reading this crap.
@TheJeff: Justice for 48 dead young people is never pointless. How could you be so callous?
@TheJeff: A special corner of hell awaits that sentiment. How long would it take you to let go the tragedy if it directly affected you
@Mr Phil Officer:
“The families are hopeful that this effort will lead to a different finding to the original coroner’s report” Already been a Report.. #Simple
@Maria Hickey-Fagan:
“The families are hopeful that this effort will lead to a different finding to the original coroner’s report” Already been a Report.. #Simple just because they did like the result doesn’t mean we should waste 10′s of millions looking into the same facts again.
@Brian Rochford:
Not 37 years..
@TheJeff: why would you reckon it has taken so long to establish the truth.
@TheJeff: lucky freinds and family you have
We have had medical verdicts pronounced way back in 1982, but the full VERDICTS was left OPEN then. We need closure, so we have now called on the relevant authorities , to finalize the Verdicts. We are tweary of this fight for Justice which has now been going on for more than 37 years. We shall be asking the people of Ireland to support us.
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