Courts / Ireland / Report

Fire investigator to give evidence on whether seat of Stardust fire can be proposed

Summary

In a 2024 inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator and forensic scientist, presented evidence to the jury about potential ignition points. He highlighted a severely damaged hotpress in the main bar near where the blaze was first noticed and an electrical outlet in the West alcove as areas that might have influenced the fire's origin. Hutchinson emphasized the importance of not focusing on a single answer, noting that burn patterns on exit doors suggested some were open early while others were closed or forced open. He also discussed the role of a curtain and carpet tiles that melted, contributing to the spread. The investigation will continue to examine these areas in detail, with the goal of proposing a seat of fire and testing hypotheses before drawing conclusions. The inquest proceeds the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Fire investigator to give evidence on whether seat of Stardust fire can be proposed. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 14 Other
• 2024-01-22 Publication

Why: "These were done by scientists or professionals who were able to give expert opinion on these matters and that is what I have used and I've had to consider because I do not have that evidence to look at directly myself. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report