The Families Are “Entitled To The Public Revelation Of The Facts”

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Now that all those responsible are not with us anymore.

This afternoon.

Dublin Coroner’s Court.

Relatives of those killed and injured in the Stardust Fire gather ahead of a preliminary hearing ahead of a new inquest that could answer their questions about how and why the tragedy happened.

Forty-eight people died and more than 200 were injured when a fire broke out in the Stardust nightclub in Artane on St Valentine’s night in 1981.

From top: Gertrude Barrett, whose 17-year-old son Michael died in the blaze;  Suzanne Keegan, Lorraine and Antoinette Keegan whose sisters Mary (19) and Martina (16) also died in the Stardust; Solicitor Darragh Mackin and a group shot of relatives of those killed and injured.

Pics Karen Morgan

Previously: A Fresh Inquest

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6 thoughts on “The Families Are “Entitled To The Public Revelation Of The Facts”

  1. Slightly Bemused

    To my eternal shame, I once presented a ‘joke’ about this. My explanation (but not excuse) is I was young, and did not realise the impact of this, or the reality. A relative of one of the victims took me to task immediately. After that I did try to find out the truth, and it horrified me. I could not apologise enough to that young man, and still feel remorse for the thoughtlessness of the time.
    Having been in an apartment that went ablaze, I have a new appreciation of the horrors of fire. That night truly terrified me, and to this day I am probably the first one out the door during practice fire drills.
    For the sake of the families of the lost, I truly hope that this will help them find out the truth, and help them find what they need to make their own peace.

    For the victims, may you rest in peace.

    1. Vanessanelle

      In fairness Slightly B
      I think our generation suffered a type of aftershock – I remember that night exactly – Friday 13th, and we were all talk about it all that week – going dancing into Valentines
      I was in Cork Con that night
      and that Saturday and Sunday between the news, the wireless, the papers, especially the Sundays, everyone in England ringing
      It was hard to believe it wasn’t us too because the tragedy was so overwhelming

      We were all teenagers just like them
      And the thoughts of so many of us those few days afterwards were how lucky were were ourselves
      We were off dancing with no fear
      It took a while to get around that – while we were dancing they were screaming to escape

      Very quickly afterwards all the new Fire Regs kicked in
      Many don’t know how lucky we were when you look back
      I remember one night in the Arc – feck, if it went up 100s of us would never have go out
      Or the old Savoy
      I am actually queasy now thinking about it

      So don’t be too hard on yourself
      For a while afterwards we were all acting outside our real selves

      Those early 80s were a terrible time to be an Irish teenager

      You should folly @48nevercamehome
      they tweet a series of ‘Facts’ that are very personal
      and they bring you right back
      and let you think about everyone that would be the same age as you and me today

  2. Bebe

    Thinking of Christine Keegan whose daughters Martina and Mary both perished in the fire. Every time I think of ‘Stardust’ I see her image, always waiting for the truth to emerge so she could get closure in her own lifetime. Sadly, though she battled courageously for decades, Christine passed away earlier this year. The 48 are not forgotten – families ensured they would be remembered – Justice is denied until are a true account of why they lost their loved ones in such tragic circumstances is provided.

    RIP Christine

    1. Daisy Chainsaw

      RIP Stardust victims and justice to the families who’ve been fighting for the truth since that awful day.

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