Stardust Inquest begins

FAMILIES of the 48 victims of the Stardust Disaster gathered at the Garden of Remembrance last Tuesday (25th) morning before they walked to the Pillar Rooms, Rotunda Hospital for the start of the inquest they’ve waited 42 years for.

In her opening statement, Dublin coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said the lives of the 48 young people who died in the fire “must be vindicated” and will be central to the inquest.

Following her statement, the first pen portraits were read by the families of Michael Barrett (17) and Caroline Bissett (18).

Gertrude Barrett carrying a ‘pen portrait’ of her son Michael (17) from the Garden of Remembrance. She was the first relative to ‘publicly commemorate’ a victim in the historic Pillar Room of the Rotunda hospital

Gertrude Barrett (pictured above with daughter Carole and family members), mother of Michael Barrett, told the inquest that “like a tornado, the Stardust fire ripped through the core of our beings.”

“I am forever haunted by the thoughts of his final moments.”

Betty Bissett, mother of Carol Bissett died, said:

“When the terrible news came, we couldn’t take it in.

“A bad dream, someone else’s nightmare.

“She was in hospital, she died three days later.

“She was alone.

“I wasn’t there to hold her hand or tell her that I love her.”

Pat Dunne, mother of Brian Hobbs, a past pupil of O’Connell School, North Richmond

Teresa McDonnell remembering family friend David Flood

The rest of the families will all get the opportunity to read their pen portraits over the coming weeks to publicly commemorate those who died.

The pen portrait section of the inquest is expected to last three weeks before it is the turn of experts and witnesses to give evidence.

No criminal prosecutions have ever brought against anybody arising from the Stardust fire and the has coroner said she will not be bound by previous findings of past inquiries.

Charlie Bird comforting Antoinette Keegan who survived the Stardust
nightclub fire in February 1981 but lost her sisters Mary and Martina.

Belfast-based human rights lawyer Darragh Mackin with family and
friends of the Stardust victims at The Garden of Remembrance

Last year the High Court ruled that this inquest can include ‘unlawful killing’ as a potential verdict.

The inquest is expected to be divided into three parts.

The first part will deal with eye-witness testimony from nightclub staff and management.

The second part will examine Dublin Fire Brigade’s response and the Garda investigation.

The third part will feature expert evidence.

The inquest, which is set to be the biggest in Irish history, is expected to last for up to six months.

The original inquest in 1982, chaired by Justice Ronan Keane, lasted only five days, and was labelled flawed and its conclusion was contested by the victims’ families.

In 2009 an independent examination into that tribunal reported there was no evidence to support Justice Keane’s finding that the fire was started deliberately near the ballroom of the nightclub.

After a long campaign by the Stardust families, in 2019 then attorney general Seamus Woulfe directed that new inquests take place.

The inquest continues before a jury of seven women and eight men.