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Patrick Butterly told 1981 tribunal that Stardust was 'fireproof' and had been 'deliberately burned'
Summary
Patrick Butterly, a former director of the company that owned the Stardust nightclub, testified at a 1981 tribunal that he believed the building was "fireproof" and that it had been deliberately burned. He said he had relied on Dublin Corporation for fire safety guidance and had not personally inspected the premises for fire risks. Butterly claimed he had not read the bylaws for places of public resort and had not seen a copy of the dance hall licence on site. He denied knowledge of exit‑door locking practices and chain drapes used to simulate locked doors, stating he was only involved in the bar business. Butterly also said he had not taken steps to verify the fire‑safety suitability of carpet tiles or other finishes, and that he had not been consulted about steel plates on windows. His statement to Gardaí in March 1981 was read to the jury. The inquest into the 48 deaths at the Stardust fire continues.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Patrick Butterly told 1981 tribunal that Stardust was 'fireproof' and had been 'deliberately burned'. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 14, 1981 Other
- March 1981 Other
- 20 February 1981 Other
- 16 February 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
- 19 February Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-06-16 Publication
Why: Asked what he and the directors of the company had done to inform themselves of what steps they should take for the safety of the patrons, Mr Butterly replied: "We thought we had a fireproof building because our building was … I don't know about the grading. CNI source report
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