Unlawful killing verdict reached in Stardust inquest

The jury in the Stardust inquests has returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

A fire broke out at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, north Dublin, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 1981. Forty-eight people, aged between 16 and 27, died.

In Irish law, a verdict of unlawful killing can only be returned when there is gross negligence taken in the interest of preserving someone’s life.

Dr Myra Cullinane, who oversaw the inquests, said of the victims “it is their lives that we’ve sought to vindicate by means of these inquests”

Before the verdict was read out, a questionnaire was asked of the jury.

The jury established that the fire started in the hot press of the club, and the cause of the fire was an electrical fault in the hot press.

The jury also established the carpet tiles on the ballroom walls contributed to the spread of the fire.

Exits were locked, chained or otherwise obstructed and victims of the fire were impeded in their ability to access exits and go through the exits.

The 48 who never came home. pic.twitter.com/ehTeNZPTj2

— Justice for Stardust 48 (@48NeverCameHome) April 18, 2024

The inquests into their deaths began in April 2023; the inquest the longest in Irish history.

The jury heard 95 days of direct evidence from 373 witnesses.

Following the marathon hearings, the jury said on Wednesday they could not reach a unanimous verdict but had come to a majority decision.

The seven women and five men on the jury deliberated for 11 days.