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Pen portraits conclude at Stardust Inquest

Summary

During the final session of the Stardust inquest, families presented pen portraits of Margaret Thornton, 19, and her boyfriend Murtagh 'Murty' Kavanagh, 27, to honour their memories. Patricia Greene, Margaret's sister, described her as a music‑loving, family‑centric young woman who had prepared for a night out with Murty before the fire. She recalled the shock of learning Margaret was missing and the subsequent grief that followed. Valerie Boyd, a close friend, recalled Margaret's last appearance and expressed ongoing remembrance. Terry Jones, Murty's sister, portrayed him as a kind, music‑appreciating, generous person, noting the panic and uncertainty after the blaze and the fact that Murty remained unidentified for twenty‑five years. The coroner praised the dignified manner in which families shared their stories, and the inquest will resume next Tuesday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pen portraits conclude at Stardust Inquest. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 14, 1981 Other
• Friday, February 13 Other
• 2023-05-18 Publication

Why: He went to his grave knowing his son was unidentified, yet he believed that his son should never have been unidentified because Murty had a partial dental plate," said Terry. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report