Courts / Dublin / Report

All 48 victims of Stardust fire were unlawfully killed, inquest jury finds

Summary

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane presided over the conclusion of the longest inquest in Irish history, where a jury found that all 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed. After deliberating for 11 days, the panel returned majority verdicts to the Dublin District Coroner's Court, determining that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the hot press of the dispense bar. The jury established that the victims' escape was impeded by locked or obstructed emergency exits, lack of staff preparedness, and the rapid spread of fire and toxic smoke. They found that these factors contributed to the deaths, with the majority dying from rapid incapacitation due to fumes and heat. The jury also recommended frequent revision of building regulations and improved inspection targets for places of public resort. Dr Cullinane thanked the jury for their service and acknowledged the persistence of the victims' families, who campaigned for decades to secure these fresh inquests. The proceedings, which began in April last year, heard evidence from 373 witnesses over 95 days. The coroner noted that the unlawful killing verdict indicated the law had been broken in a serious fashion, a finding distinct from accidental death or misadventure. The families expressed profound appreciation for the meticulous work of the coroner and the dedication of the jury, who delivered the verdicts that vindicated the lives of the 48 young people who lost their lives on Valentine's Day, 1981.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: All 48 victims of Stardust fire were unlawfully killed, inquest jury finds. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 14, 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 2019 Other
• March 1982 Other
• 2024-04-18 Publication

Why: " The jury also found that the speed of the spread of the fire, the lack of visibility because of black smoke that was released, as well as the toxicity of the smoke and gases and the heat of the fire were all factors which impeded the deceased in their ability to escape the building following the outbreak of the fire. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report