Courts / Dublin / Report

'They couldn't get out, the doors were padlocked': Stardust witness tells of conversation with doorman

Summary

Michael O'Toole, a witness at the Stardust inquest, recounted that shortly after the 1981 fire, doorman Michael Kavanagh held a bunch of keys and repeatedly told him the club's doors were padlocked, preventing escape. O'Toole said he could not count how many times Kavanagh made the claim and that the keys were likely those of the Stardust. Kavanagh, who was 20 at the time, had initially told Gardaí he had unlocked the fire exit doors but retracted this statement after O'Toole's father reported Kavanagh's claim that the doors were locked. Kavanagh later admitted he had lied to Gardaí and that he had not opened the doors, feeling he was being made a scapegoat. O'Toole confirmed that Kavanagh's statements were made while they were in his kitchen and that the keys were taken out of his pocket during the conversation. The inquest heard that Kavanagh's repeated assertion of locked doors was a key point in the evidence presented.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'They couldn't get out, the doors were padlocked': Stardust witness tells of conversation with doorman. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 16, 1981 Other
• February 19th Other
• February 19, 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2023-11-10 Publication

Why: He said he did not know who had opened the doors and said he went to gardaí to tell them the truth, that he had not opened the doors, because he felt he was being made a "scapegoat". CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report