Hot press fault ‘a likely cause’ of Stardust fire, Dr Will Hutchinson says

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

Fire investigator Dr Will Hutchinson told Dublin District Coroner’s Court on 29 January 2024 that an electrical fault in the Stardust hot press was a likely cause of the fire.

Hutchinson said defects in the upper immersion heater’s wiring could have caused a fire, while also identifying accidental or deliberate ignition of a seat in the West alcove as another possibility. He said combustible carpet tiles on the walls beneath a low ceiling contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.

He said the severe damage and available evidence made it difficult to determine the area of origin with certainty. The inquest evidence therefore described a likely cause, rather than establishing a definitive origin.