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Stardust patron says friends told him they could feel heat coming from roof
Summary
During the Stardust inquest, a 17‑year‑old witness, Sharon O'Hanlon, recounted that she and friends were among the first to leave the club after a small fire appeared in a partitioned area. She described how a piece of ceiling fell onto their table minutes after the fire was first seen. O'Hanlon said the heat from the blaze caused the ceiling to collapse, though she could not recall if the material was burning or melted. She noted that the fire was near the back of the seating bank, not under the ceiling where they sat. She and her friends reacted quickly, gathering belongings and exiting through the front door. The doors were open when they left, and doormen later attempted to close them. The witness confirmed the incident occurred within three to six minutes of smelling smoke. The testimony was given to the Dublin District Coroner's Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Stardust patron says friends told him they could feel heat coming from roof. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 13, 1981 Incident
- April 8, 1981 Other
- 2023-10-17 Publication
Why: That's what I was more frightened of because when I saw the fire initially it was far away, far enough that we were safe but at that stage I knew," Ms O'Hanlon told the jury at Dublin District Coroner's Court today. CNI source report
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