Stardust committee calls for new inquest into nightclub tragedy

The Stardust Victims’ Committee will launch a postcard campaign this afternoon calling on the Attorney General to open a fresh inquest into the 1981 fire.

The campaign launch, which is supported by Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan, will take place at 2pm today outside Leinster House on Kildare Street.

The families believe that the original 1982 inquest into the tragedy proceeded without access to all the relevant evidence which they say is now available. They claim that relevant witnesses, who would have been able to assist the coroner in his investigation, were not called at the time, nor did they provide written evidence.

Earlier this year, the Stardust families were dealt a blow when a review of evidence by retired judge Pat McCartan ruled out a new inquiry into the fire.

Speaking ahead of today’s campaign launch, Lynn Boylan said it was time that an inquest was commissioned in a similar vein to the Hillsborough disaster one “to bring truth, justice and closure” to the families directly affected by the Stardust fire.