Stardust: 25 Years On

national | crime and justice | opinion/analysis

Tuesday February 14, 2006 23:15

by Brian - Labour Youth

Twenty-five years ago today, 48 young people lost their lives in the former Stardust Nightclub, Butterly Business Park, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5.

The fire, which was first discovered at 1:20AM on the morning of Valentine's Day, while the club was still full from the night before, was believed to have been started by a slashed seat cover allowing a flame — probably a cigarette — to ignite the foam beneath. Paper decorations for the impending Valentine's Night celebrations also ignited, causing the entire building to catch fire.
48 people, all young, died in the fire. The families of the victims and survivors fought in the courts for compensation, accountability, and justice, but the owners, the Butterly family, were cleared of direct responsibility after a lengthy public enquiry. However, they were found guilty of gross negligence for keeping the emergency exits blocked, but due to a legal technical flaw they escaped prosecution and claimed against Dublin Corporation for malicious damages. The Butterlys were awarded IR£580,000 (€1,25o,000).

Despite some legal recognition and financial compensation gained after a struggle which lasted five years, the relatives and victims are unable to close this chapter of their lives and there are regular calls to re-open the enquiry.

Some basic rules, such as the provision of fire extinguishers and fire exits being left unblocked and obviously posted, which have been implemented, could probably have prevented any deaths if they had existed at the time. There is also evidence that many of these rules have still not been implemented.