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'We saw terrible, terrible things,' Stardust survivor tells inquest

Summary

Yvonne Graham, a survivor of the 1981 Stardust Ballroom fire, gave a moving testimony at the inquest, describing the horror she and her friend Susan Morgan (19) witnessed as the blaze claimed 48 lives. Yvonne and Susan had moved from Derry to Dublin to work at the Nazareth House care home, where they lived and worked with other young women. She recalled the night of the fire, the shock of seeing friends die in front of them, and the subsequent trauma that haunted her with nightmares and compulsive safety checks. Yvonne spoke of the blame placed on the girls for being away from home, the lasting impact on her own life and her children, and her hope that the inquest will bring justice for those who suffered. The account focuses on the immediate aftermath and the enduring psychological effects of the tragedy.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'We saw terrible, terrible things,' Stardust survivor tells inquest. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• February 13, 1981 Other
• February 14, 1981 Incident
• 2023-05-02 Publication

Why: "As I was throwing water on my face and getting dressed, she was falling about, laughing, because it was still the middle of the night. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report