Tag Archives: Stardust

The Stardust, Artane, Dublin on the morning of February 14, 1981

This evening.

Attorney General Séamus Woulfe has today confirmed that a fresh inquest will be held into the 48 deaths at the Stardust fire, Artane on 14 February 1981.

The families through their lawyers Phoenix Law made a formal application for a fresh investigation.

Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, said:

“The Attorney General has today confirmed that our clients’ application for a fresh inquest has been successful.

The families of the Stardust victims will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at 11am in Buswells Hotel.

The families are delighted with today’s decision, however would ask that their privacy is respected tonight.”

More as we get it.

Previously: ‘No Such Request Has been Recieved

Stardust Artane on Broadsheet

Pic: Eamonn Farrell/Rollingnews

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

This afternoon.

During Leaders’ Questions.

In the Dáil.

In reply to a question from Independent TD Tommy Broughan about this morning’s protest and collective call for inquests into those who died in the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin on Valentine’s Day, 1981, to be reopened…

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said KRW Law solicitors, acting for the Stardust relatives and victims, wrote to the Attorney General on April 12, saying that they were putting the AG on notice of their intention to make a formal request of him to grant new inquests, within a matter of weeks.

Mr Varadkar said the AG had acknowledged this letter but that, to date, KRW Law has yet to make the formal inquest.

He also claimed the AG office twice wrote to KRW Law, in July and this month, noting that the AG awaited the formal request.

Mr Varadkar added:

Once it is received, and I did speak to the Attorney General this morning, he will give it full consideration and will look at it afresh with an open mind.

Anyone?

Earlier: Bringing The Truth Home

The Stardust, Artane, Dublin 5 on February 15, 1981

At 6.30pm.

A vigil will be held  at the site of the Stardust nightclub, Artane, Dublin  5.

Today is the 37th Anniversary of the Stardust Disaster.

Forty eight people died in a fire at the club on Valentine’s night, 1981

Ciara O’Connor writes:

Those who attended the Stardust that night have been branded as responsible for what happened while those responsible have been protected by those in political circles ever since.

This is Ireland`s Hillsborough disaster and it is time for the communities of Dublin North East to come together to remember those who never came home and call for an independent inquiry to clear the names of all who attended the Stardust

Have they been forgotten?

Please give the victims and families 1 hour to show that the local communities have not forgotten these young people needlessly killed & injured.

Stardust Vigil (Facebook)

Pic: Eamonn Farrell

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

A candle lighting ceremony in memory of the 48 victims of the Stardust tragedy in 1981

Above from left: Gertrude Barrett who lost her son Michael (17), Eugene Kelly who lost his brother Robert Kelly, Antoinette Keegan, with her mother Christine at . Antoinette survived the fire, but lost both of her sisters, Martina (16) and Mary (19).

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

startdust 413_90500957

This morning.

Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Families affected by the 1981 Stardust tragedy prepare to meet Minister of State Finian McGrath on the Government’s response to a private members motion, which calls for a commission of investigation to be set up into the  fire.

Forty eight people died at the Stardust nightclub in Artane in north Dublin on Valentine’s night 1981. The families say they have significant new evidence into the cause of the fire. Some Fine Gael cabinet members want this evidence independently verified before agreeing to a statutory inquiry and complain about the cost of an inquiry.

Top from left: Maurice Frazer who lost his sister Thelma (20), Antoinette with her mother Christine Keegan with a picture of Martina and Mary who died in the Stardust, Eugene Kelly who lost his brother Robert Kelly (17) , Patricia Kennedy who lost her daughter Mary (Maire) (17) , Louise and her mother Bridget who lost William (22), Marcela (16) and George (18).

‘We just want the truth’: Stardust families seek inquiry (Irish Times)

Meanwhile…

“Had this happened back in September it would have been different,” said one Fine Gael minister. “We recognise Finian’s difficulty and we don’t object to an inquiry in principle. But we can’t have an inquiry just for the sake of it, given how much it would cost.

Compassionate.

Finian McGrath ‘not for turning’ on Stardust (Irish Examiner)

Rollingnews

Update: