Taoiseach issues state apology to families of Stardust victims

The families of the victims who died in the Stardust fire tragedy have received an apology from Taoiseach Simon Harris.

The Taoiseach apologised on behalf of the State in the Dáil this afternoon with some of the relatives of the victims present in the distinguished guests public gallery.

Before delivering the state apology, the Taoiseach paid individual tributes to each of the 48 victims by reading out their names along with a few words about their personalities and hobbies and dreams.

“I know there have been many times when you thought this day would never come,” Mr Harris said.

“I know you were forced to endure a living nightmare which began when your loved ones were snatched from you in a devastating fire.

“Their unfinished stories became your story.

The defining story of your lives and the lives of your parents and other family members who left this life before ever seeing justice.

“I am deeply sorry you were made to fight for so long that they went to their graves never knowing the truth.

“Today we say formally and without any equivocation, we are sorry.

“We failed you when you needed us the most, from the very beginning we should have stood with you but instead we forced you to stand against us.

“I truly hope that the days since last Thursday have marked a turning point and here today in Dáil Éireann we finally begin to put things right.

“To bring you in from the cold and end the neglect of 43 years waiting and fighting for the only thing you ever wanted, the truth.

“Nothing else. No other agenda, just the truth.

“As Taoiseach on behalf of this State, I apologise unreservedly to all the families of the Stardust victims and all the survivors for the hurt that was done to them and for the profoundly painful years of struggle for the truth.”