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"This was something that we had never experienced" - garda responding to Stardust fire

Summary

A garda on duty during the Stardust fire described the event as unprecedented, stating that the scale of the situation was brought home to him when a colleague told him 'whatever you can get' in terms of ambulances. Former garda sergeant Thomas Vennard testified that the incident was something they had never experienced before. The inquest also heard that Stardust manager Eamon Butterly and bar manager Brian Peel remained on site after the fire was extinguished. Garda Sergeant Bernard McMahon, who was tasked with preserving the scene, stated that he saw Butterly and Peel in the foyer of the Silver Swan and expressed his unhappiness with people being on the premises. McMahon also mentioned that he had previously observed fire exit doors locked with chains, a practice he understood was in place to keep 'gougers' out.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "This was something that we had never experienced" - garda responding to Stardust fire. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 2023-12-08 Publication

Why: The witness said he wanted to make clear to the bar manager that he wasn't satisfied with the procedures in place at the Stardust because of the number of people that attended functions there at the time. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report