Courts / Dublin / Report

Survivor tells inquest it was 'raining flames' in Stardust

Summary

During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, Yvonne Blackwell, aged 18 at the time, testified that she and four friends from Derry were trapped in a panic when flames erupted at the end of the hall. She described the scene as "raining flames," with ashtrays igniting on tables, and that she was pushed and shoved by the crowd, unable to locate exits. Blackwell could not recall seeing her friend Susan Morgan inside the club, and she later reflected on the trauma and subsequent drinking. Ann and Finola Horner also gave evidence, describing the intense heat, orange glow, and the difficulty of escaping locked exits. They recounted seeing a man named Larry outside, who was severely burned. Valerie Walsh reported that after the fire started, exit doors were closed behind her, preventing people from re‑entering the burning building. The inquest will continue tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Survivor tells inquest it was 'raining flames' in Stardust. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 2023-11-16 Publication

Why: She told Ms Campbell that when she saw "sparks raining down", the ashtrays started igniting on the tables because the heat was so intense. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report