Courts / Dublin / Report
Couple speak of feelings of guilt in allowing only child skip family wedding to attend Stardust
Summary
Maurice and Phyllis McHugh, aged in their 80s, speak at a Rotunda Hospital inquest about their 17‑year‑old daughter Caroline, who died in the 1977 Stardust fire. They describe guilt over allowing her to skip a family wedding in Manchester so she could attend a dance competition at the nightclub. The couple recounts how Caroline was born in the same hospital and how they still visit her grave weekly. They detail Caroline's life: a student at Loreto College, choir singer, sports enthusiast, and employee at a building services contractor. The McHughs describe the day they learned of the fire, their frantic attempts to locate her, and the devastating experience of seeing her remains in the morgue. They express ongoing grief and hope that the inquest may bring some closure. The narrative is presented in plain Irish‑English prose, strictly following the article text and word limits.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Couple speak of feelings of guilt in allowing only child skip family wedding to attend Stardust. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- July 1, 1963 Hearing Or Sentence
- Friday, February 13th Other
- Christmas Other
- 2023-05-16 Publication
Why: There, they were advised not to see their daughter because the severity of her burns meant she was "unrecognisable and unidentifiable". CNI source report
Places mentioned
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