The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Jury verdict of unlawful killing in firend
BY CILLIAN SHERLOCK, GRAINNE NI AODHA, CATE MCCURRY, REBECCA BLACK, DAVID YOUNG
Averdict of unlawful killing has been returned by the jury in the Stardust fire inquests for all 48 people who died in the 1981 Dublin nightclub disaster.
The devastating blaze in Artane, north Dublin, broke out in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 1981.
The jury foreman at Dublin District Coroner’s Court said it had reached the same verdict of “unlawful killing” for each individual.
Some family members of the victims jumped to their feet and clapped at the verdict, while some were moved to tears as they remained in their seat.
The jury determined that the fire originated in and started due to an electrical fault in the hot press in the bar.
The jury also determined that polyurethane foam within seating, the height of the ceiling in a west alcove of the building and carpet tiles on the walls were contributory factors to the spread of the fire.
However, it said the condition of the fire extinguishers was not a contributory factor.
The jury said the lack of visibility due to black smoke, a lack of knowledge of the layout of the building, toxicity of the smoke and/or gases, the heat of the fire, failures of the emergency lighting system, lack of staff preparedness, and the speed of the spread of the fire were factors that impeded exit.
Also asked if any of the deceased were impeded in their ability to exit due to locked, chained or otherwise obstructed exits, the jury said “yes”. Asked if this was a contributory factor in any of the deaths, the jury also said “yes”.
The jury further recommended improved reviews of building regulations following the inquest.
In majority of the cases, the medical causes of death were recorded as due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat.
After the verdicts were delivered, family members hugged their legal representatives. Others wiped away tears. One member of the jury became visibly emotional.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane thanked the jurors for their service, stating that “the passing of years hasn’t diminished the horror of some of the evidence that you have heard”.