Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is almost 41 years since the terrible Stardust nightclub fire in Artane in Dublin, in which 48 young people died and 214 were injured. The Stardust fire is embedded in the memories not only of the people of Dublin, but the collective memory of the nation. There was no one untouched by the fire, from Cork to Donegal, from Sligo to Louth. Everyone knew someone who was at the Stardust nightclub on that terrible Valentine’s night in 1981.

It is incredible that 41 years on from the disaster, the survivors and families are still waiting for justice to this day. They are still waiting for the opening of a fair and transparent inquest into how their loved ones died. It has been accepted that previous inquests and inquiries were flawed and left pertinent questions unanswered. The likes of John and Christine Keegan are no longer with us and will never see justice. They lost two daughters in the Stardust fire, but their daughter Antoinette, who survived the fire, continues to seek justice.

Maurice and Phyllis McHugh, who lost their only daughter, are still waiting for justice, as are so many other families that lost loved ones. It is a principle of law that justice delayed is justice denied. After a wait of 41 years, there can be no doubt that justice continues to be denied to the survivors and families that lost loved ones in the Stardust fire. One of the more recent delays relates to the State's inability to identify an appropriate setting for the inquest. In a city with a multitude of venues to choose from, such a reason for delay is difficult to accept. I am also led to believe that matters pertaining to the transparency of the process are also causing delays.

I am led to believe there was a proposal that the Garda would choose the jury for the inquest. This has been dropped after family objections. The issue that now exists is that the members of the jury will not be paid for their service. This is a major problem as the inquest is expected to last months. I am asking the Tánaiste to work with relevant Departments to identify funding to pay an inquest jury for a few months. It is the least that the State can do considering the unnecessary trauma we have put the survivors and families of the victims through.

On the night of 14 June 2017 in London, England, a horrific fire at a block of apartments killed 72 people. Within two years of that date, a coroner’s inquest had been completed, a Commons select committee hearing on the disaster was completed, the first phase of a two-phase inquiry was completed, and the second and final phase of the inquiry is under way despite delays as a result of Covid-19. All these processes have found significant culpability by public bodies, and there is little criticism of the process. Compare that to the Stardust fire inquiries here: there is no comparison. There can be little doubt that the British Government's response to the Grenfell Tower fire was respectful and delivered truth and justice. It did not shirk from seeking out those responsible. They were not compromised by uncomfortable truths. We all know that a proper and transparent inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire will reveal facts that will discomfort elements of the political establishment in this country.

When the findings are compared to previous flawed inquiries, questions will be asked, but that is no reason to deny the survivors and families of the victims justice after 40 years. This cannot continue any longer.

I am asking the Tánaiste for the sake of the survivors and families of victims of the Stardust nightclub fire, to make a commitment to the House that the inquiry into Stardust will be delayed no more. Will the Tánaiste assure both this House and the nation that the continued trauma caused to the survivors and families by delay after delay, excuse after excuse, will come to an end? Will he do all in his power to bring about a just and timely commencement of the inquiry without further delay?

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