Stardust inquest jury retires for weekend to consider verdicts

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

The Stardust inquest jury retired for the weekend on 12 April 2024 after eight days considering verdicts on the deaths of 48 people in the 1981 fire.

The 12 jurors had deliberated for more than 30 hours since beginning on 3 April. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane gave further guidance after questions about whether answers on their questionnaire would imply a failure by anyone.

Cullinane said the questionnaire answers were for establishing facts and did not automatically mean a factor represented a failure. The jury could consider an unlawful killing verdict only if its findings met the legal test and did not identify an individual.

The coroner discharged the jury at the Rotunda Hospital and told them not to discuss the case outside their number. They were due to return the following Monday to continue deliberations.