Eamon Butterly gave contradictory evidence on locked exits

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Eamon Butterly told the Dublin District Coroner’s Court on 27 September 2023 that locking and unlocking Stardust’s exit doors was a joint policy with security staff, while acknowledging his evidence differed from his account to the 1981 tribunal.

Cross-examined about who made the decision, Butterly said the policy was the security staff’s and his, but also described it as head doorman Tom Kennan’s initiative. He could not say how much of the policy he was willing to accept responsibility for.

Counsel for families of victims challenged the difference between Butterly’s current evidence and his earlier account that he had made the decision himself. Butterly said the decision had been made with Kennan and deputy head doorman Mr Doyle, and that he had given evidence to the best of his ability.

Butterly also said the practice of locking certain doors for part of the evening began about three weeks before the fire, while chains placed over panic bars to give the impression doors were locked had been used for longer. His evidence was continuing, and he said he stood over the evidence he had given at the inquest.