Stardust tragedy 😢

[TaTuirseOrm]

I've grown up with the news of the Stardust tragedy, and am glad those families finally have an outcome that tells it like it is.... it was unlawful killing.
It has been a ridiculously long wait ( I won't say for justice), so I hope it brings some peace to those bereaved families 🙏
RIP to the 48

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/this-day-is-for-the-48-stardust-families-call-for-state-apology-after-unlawful-killing-verdict-for-victims-of-1981-fire/a1621799983.html

RIP those young people who had their lives taken from them.

including the young woman who was 14 weeks pregnant so another potential life.

RIP to the victims. But it's a terrible indictment of our systems here that it has taken so long. I think it actually happened slightly before I was born . So many friends and relatives that never saw justice.

We all have 'where were you when?' moments. I remember my mother, on the morning of February 15th, coming into my room very early with a cup of tea and telling me there's been a terrible fire in a club in Dublin.

I didn't know anyone directly involved - the closest was my aunt's husband's sister's niece by marriage who was killed - but I remember the horrible atmosphere in Dublin, particularly the first couple of days when they didn't know how many people had died because a lot of traumatised survivors were in the city centre trekking from hospital to hospital looking for their pals, and many houses had no phones that would have let them call them home.

I worked near Christchurch Cathedral, and on the day of the funerals (or memorial? not sure) they played the bells and tolled them for the victims. Shattering. Most of them were so young.

At least there is now a recognition of the truth. Very long overdue.

There were so many mass casualty events round that time - the Fastness race disaster, Whiddy Island explosion, Bundoran hotel fire, Buttevant rail crash - and everything that was happening in the north, week after week.

So relieved for the families that they finally got some justice.

I grew up in the area and a few girls in my year at school were there that night but thankfully all got out. One got out because her sister who worked there got out but realised she was still inside and went in and got her out. One girl lost her best friend who didn’t go to our school. And I knew one of the victims to see as I passed her house in my way to school.

The whole area was in shock for weeks. School on the Monday after was very subdued with girls missing and we weren’t sure if they were ok.

A few of the victims worked in a local shopping centre.

My Dad had been in the Stardust a few weeks before on a reccy for work - he worked for RTE - and he said it was an obvious fire trap.

It affected us all.

I remember every year afterwards the In Memoriam pages in the evening papers were full of notices for the Stardust victims. My mother cried every year reading them.

Fair play to Paddy Kielty reading all the names out 😢

I’m so glad about this verdict. The families have been traumatised twice - first by the tragedy and then by having to fight for justice.

I hope those responsible for this fire trap are given consequences and that the families are compensated, for their loss and all those years of struggle.

43 years on is it likely any of those responsible for making the building a fire trap are around to face any consequences, essentially they got away with it which just compounds the tragedy for the families

@JaneJeffer - I’ve just watched that on iPlayer. It was very moving.

What they want more than anything is a sincere apology from the State @MILLYmo0se

I understand that, I wasn't commenting on the families wishes or reasons for pursuing this all these years, I was replying to the comment re hoping those responsible for making the Stardust a firetrap would face consequences

Well thankfully Eamonn Butterly is still around. And still denying any liability obviously.

I do think it’s too late though.

But apparently the Coronor’s file will go to the Gardaí and if they think there is a case and it’s not beyond the Statue of Limitations they might pursue it.

I hope they do, all their names need to be dragged through the courts but whether anyone will actually go to jail over it I doubt v much

I started bawling in the car yesterday- son is 16 and going to teen discos. Can’t imagine life after that

I didn't see the LLS but can only imagine how sad it was. The strength those families have shown for 43 years is amazing!
I teared up watching the news when one woman said "... you're now out of the darkness and smoke.... and in the light and sunshine..." (I've probably got it not quite right but I thought it was beautiful).
I'm still astounded it took so long, and all the governments since bear a portion of the blame for increasing the pain for all who suffered.

@Peridot1, I'm a bit younger and from the other side of the city but I can imagine the sorrow filling the air.

May the Stardust Forty-Eight rest in peace. I have such respect and admiration for their families who kept fighting for justice all these years.

I hadn't known the individual stories until recently or that it had been suggested it was arson. Appalling. While I knew about the Stardust tragedy, I hadn't known that much about it. I was in first class in primary school when it happened and I wrote two lines in my copybook about it under 'news of the day' so something registered with me. I still have it the copy.

Patrick Kielty and the Late Late Show was excellent last night.

They never gave up did they, for their lost loved ones.

A few years ago my eldest dd was in a nightclub in Harcourt Street.
An emergency exit to a back lane was locked to keep gatecrashers out.

Do the fire service do a spot check these exits in the evenings when there are events going on or are they checked by appointment during the day ?

Let's ask the local politicians knocking on our doors looking for votes at the moment.

My sister was in stardust. Went out with 7 girls & 2 came home. It’s still not justice but in the right direction,

nothing will bring them back, they never got their chance to live their lives.

You're right @VaddaABeetch, it's not justice, but it is an acknowledgement at least. Hope you and your family are doing OK this week, I'm sure it's been emotional💐💐

@VaddaABeetch - we must be from the same area. Hope you and your family are ok. It’s been such a long time for this fight.

@VaddaABeetch this tragedy touched so many lives 💐

I am happy for those who got to hear the right verdict, they have campaigned for long enough, but imo I feel it's too little too late. Many have died since and never got to hear the real truth. For many, many years these victims were blamed, the owners got compensation, the families were ignored while a huge cover up happened.

Charlie Haughey promised the families he would get to the bottom of it and get justice and answers for the everyone, but we should have known the biggest crook would do no such thing.

There had to have been many involved in these lies and cover ups. Those who did so should all be named and shamed even though half of them are probably dead.

Those who admitted to lying should have been a wake up call to recent governments to realise that a new investigation was needed, there should have been more questions asked and not continue blaming it on arson.

There were many to blame here and not one of the disco goers was to blame.

Disco's/nightclubs have all different types of checks, it's water tight now but even in the 80s there were checks too. Someone either slipped up or was paid off. Even if the safety checks were not as intense as they are now, basic health and safety was in place in all work places, this includes not locking or blocking fire exits.

I really feel for those who lost loved ones, those who live with the nightmare of escaping and remembering the horror of that night.

Minister's standing up saying sorry is pathetic these families lives stopped that night. They have spent over 40 years fighting to clear their families names, that's no way to live. No one was ever arrested or charged.

My sister was in a Dublin hotel a while ago and noticed the fire exit was locked. She asked the manager twice to unlock it but he refused as it was to stop smokers opening the door to go for a smoke. After the 2nd refusal she asked if he'd ever heard of the Stardust. He had. She then asked him why he was so confident it would never happen again. The fire door was unlocked straight away. There needs to be fire wardens who spot check venues for compliance re fire doors. Any noncompliance should bean immediate closure and the owner and manager on duty are brought to court. The Stardust should never happen again but, sadly, it might.

What killed those young people was that the building was not fit to be a night club. The stuff the ceiling was made of was toxic. Even if the doors were open many would not have made it that far. The toxic fumes killed then. The wiring was faulty & not at a level for a nightclub & there was no evacuation plan.

a perfect shit show. It would never have happened in a leafy suburb but good enough for working class Northside

It could well happen again because of our stupid lax approach to regulations.

Another great article by Brenda Power in The Sunday Times today on the Stardust verdict.
She writes ".....the septic and feckless cesspit that was Irish politics at the time...."
So true.