Courts / Ireland / Report

'Justice for the 48': Stardust families call on State to apologise

Summary

On the day the inquest jury declared that all 48 young people who died in the Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed, families gathered to express relief and demand an apology from the Irish State. Alison Croker, sister of 18‑year‑old Jacqueline, said the verdict gave her family vindication and called for a formal apology for the systematic abuse endured. Other relatives, including Louise McDermott, Antoinette Keegan, Samantha Curran, Susan Behan, Pat Dunne, Siobhán Kearney, Lisa Lawlor, Selina McDermott, Margaret Nangle, Phyllis McHugh and Maurice Frazer, shared personal grief and praised the coroner and jury for their work. Solicitor Darragh Mackin noted that the record had been corrected, affirming that the 48 were unlawfully killed and that families had not given up over four decades.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Justice for the 48': Stardust families call on State to apologise. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 11, 1981 Other
• 2024-04-18 Publication

Why: "I just cried, because she was my only child," said Phyllis, explaining that she took solace in the findings and verdicts delivered by the jury. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report