Courts / Dublin / Report

Five verdicts open to Stardust jury, as members told blame cannot be apportioned

Summary

The jury for the Stardust inquests received legal guidance on the five verdicts they may return for the 48 victims of the 1981 fire. Dr Myra Cullinane explained that an inquest is a fact‑finding exercise, not a trial, and that no verdict may apportion blame or identify any person. The available verdicts are accidental death, death by misadventure, an open verdict, a narrative verdict and unlawful killing. Unlawful killing requires a very high degree of failure to observe a necessary course of action, a substantial cause of death, and a standard of beyond‑reasonable‑doubt, but it may not name any individual. The jury must record a verdict for each deceased, may make recommendations to prevent future deaths, but cannot include censure or exoneration. The jury will begin deliberations on 3 April in the Rotunda Hospital.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Five verdicts open to Stardust jury, as members told blame cannot be apportioned. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• Wednesday, April 3 Other
• 2024-03-28 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report