Statement from Minister Helen McEntee on Verdict of Unlawful Killing at Stardust Inquest

Today is a landmark day which I hope has brought answers, and some comfort, to the families and friends of the 48 young people who died in the Stardust fire on St. Valentine’s Day in 1981.

All those affected have endured so much, and while I know the pain of such loss and suffering never fades, I hope they will feel they have today finally got to the truth of what happened.

The Stardust fire was a national tragedy that has left a particular legacy of pain for the country and most particularly for the people of North Dublin.

I sympathise greatly with the families of the 48 young people tragically killed in the fire for the terrible loss they suffered. I also recognise the lasting impact on everyone who attended that night and their families. I know so many of you today will be thinking of your parents and other relatives who never got over their terrible loss.

A really important aspect of the inquest process was the very moving ‘Pen Portraits’ which gave each of the bereaved families a chance to describe and celebrate the all too short lives of their loved ones.

The conclusion of these inquests will not bring back those who died that night - but I hope that it will help their loved ones to achieve some small degree of closure and healing around this tragic event.

I am very grateful to the jurors who devoted a significant amount of time to their duties. I acknowledge their dedication to the inquest process, which often involved sitting through extremely distressing evidence.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Senior Dublin Coroner, Dr. Myra Cullinane, for her professionalism and sensitivity in conducting the inquests.

The role of the Department of Justice is and has always been to support the Senior Dublin Coroner, who is, by law, fully independent in conducting the inquests.

The Government will now consider the verdict and recommendations of the Jury.

Background

• The original Stardust Inquests took place in 1981 and were followed by the Victims Compensation Tribunal in 1986, and independent examinations in 2009 (Coffey) and 2017 (McCartan).

• In 2019, the Attorney General directed that new inquests should be held.

• The Stardust Inquests began on Tuesday, 25 April 2023.

• A jury was empanelled on 17 April 2023.

• Since the Attorney General directed fresh inquests into the Stardust tragedy, the Department has ensured that the coroner and the families are provided with all necessary supports. This includes:

o Provision and fit-out of a bespoke courtroom to accommodate the families and other interested persons in the Pillar Room in the Rotunda.

o Access to civil legal aid for all the families, regardless of their means.

o Passing legislation to enable the Courts Service to assist the Senior Dublin Coroner to empanel a Jury for the Stardust inquests. This legislation also provided for employers to continue to pay the wages of people summoned to serve on the Stardust inquests jury, similar to provisions for criminal and civil trial juries.

o A dedicated website for the inquests to provide information to the families, media, and the general public.

o Assigning additional staff to the Office of the Dublin Coroner.

o Facilitating the appointment of legal and expert guidance to support the Coroner in her important work.