Courts / Dublin / Report
First fireman on Stardust scene tells of finding victims 'huddled together'
Summary
The first emergency responder, Dermot Dowdall, described arriving at the Stardust nightclub at about 1.49 am, after a call from John Fitzsimons warned of a potential loss of up to 200 people. He found a circle of victims huddled together on the dancefloor, their heads down, and noted the fire had already been intense, venting through the roof and largely extinguished by the time he and a colleague reached the scene. Dowdall and his team focused on rescuing those in the toilets, transporting eight severely burned girls and a boy to St James Hospital. He later assisted in searching for bodies, describing the scene as gruesome and noting that many victims were already deceased when he arrived. The fire's rapid spread and high heat were highlighted as key factors in the tragedy.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: First fireman on Stardust scene tells of finding victims 'huddled together'. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 14th, 1981 Other
- 2023-12-01 Publication
Why: He said he knew it was her because of her earrings. CNI source report
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