Courts / Dublin / Report
'The hands disappeared and the shouting stopped': Stardust patron gives emotional evidence about those inside nightclub
Summary
During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, a 17‑year‑old patron, Paula Toner, gave a highly emotional testimony describing the chaos that unfolded as people tried to escape. She recounted how the lights went out, people were crushed in the hallway, and the main doors were initially closed. Toner described how some patrons broke the toilet windows and shouted at those inside, urging them to put their heads down. She noted that the left side of the main entrance was initially open, then the other door was kicked out, allowing people to flee. The testimony ended with a sudden quiet as the shouting stopped and the "hands disappeared," indicating the situation inside had become fatal. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'The hands disappeared and the shouting stopped': Stardust patron gives emotional evidence about those inside nightclub. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 14, 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-10-11 Publication
Why: "The silence just went through everyone that was outside, the whole place just went deadly quiet, because the hands disappeared and the shouting stopped, and we knew what was basically happening inside," Paula Toner told the jury today. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Rotunda Hospital
Topics
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