Skip to main content

THE STARDUST TRAGEDY: They Never Came Home

The Stardust fire was a fatal fire which took place at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, in the early hours of 14th February (Valentine's Day) 1981. More than 800 people were attending a disco there, of whom 48 died and 214 were injured as a result of the fire; in later years suicides of survivors and family members were also linked to the event.

The club was located in what was formerly known as Butterly Business Park, now renamed Artane Business Park, opposite Artane Castle Shopping Centre. The escape of the disco attendees was hampered by chains and padlocks on multiple exits, by barred windows, and further by failure of the lighting system.

Initially, the cause of the fire was not conclusively determined; an initial determination of arson was later found to have been one of a number of hypotheses, and unproveable.

Due to the arson finding, and despite criticism of safety points, the owners of the building claimed and received public compensation, and were not liable to civil action from the families of the deceased, and survivors.

No charges were ever brought against any party for causing the fire or the loss of life.

After reviews, and years of campaigning, in 2019 it was announced that fresh inquests would take place for the 48 victims, and these commenced in 2023.

In 2024 the Dublin District Coroners Court found, in a majority verdict, that all 48 people died as a result of unlawful killing.

This is the story of the Stardust Fire Tragedy through the eyes of the victims and their families.

 

Comments

POPULAR POSTS

WOKE: The Trope That Doesn't Work

WOKE - a word we now hear so often used in ridicule of others on social media commentary. But like so many tropes used against others, its user - by the mere act of using it - clearly demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of its true meaning and origin. If anything, its usage, now defines more the user, than the intended reciprocate. And its not a new word by any stretch of 21st Century meaning. It dates back more than 80 years but has only in the past few years reignited its common and increasing usage in everyday English language. ORIGIN - THE WOKE It originally dates back to a comment from an African American United Mine Workers official in 1940 (USA), stating: "Let me tell you buddy. Waking up is a damn sight harder than going to sleep, but we'll stay woke up longer." Think of all the times in exchanges online (primarily social media) that you've been described as 'woke' in a derogatory way. Ask yourselves, have you noticed how often those throwing

The Case of Raonaid Murray

The body of Raonaid Murray (17) was found at Silchester Crescent, Glenageary, Dublin, less than 500 metres from her home on September 3rd, 1999. She was returning at approximately 11.20 pm from a night out at Scotts pub in Dun Laoghaire town centre. Her intention, made known to friends by mobile phone (using her friend's device at Scotts), was to return home, change, and head out to a local nightclub around midnight. She never got home. She was stabbed to death near her home (about 10 minutes away) while walking up a footpath with a one-and-a-half inch knife around midnight or shortly before. Forensics revealed that she was stabbed multiple times, but many initial wounds were not fatal or intrusive and would case death, as if punishment wounds. She staggered some 15 metres before the fatal stab wounds were delivered to her side and piercing vital organs. She bleed to death and about 20 minutes later and was discovered by her elder sister out with her friends earlier when they exite

Things That Happen (7)

Today blazed colours we dream of. Only the mountains and the sea—the sky anew, the earth anew—conduct the orchestra of music in our lives. We choose to let our hearts dance steps—giddily—or simply lie silent in mystery; unheard. We dare to step out in the rain and end up drenched in sunshine. We dare to step out in the sunshine and end up drenched by showers from the sky weeping uncontrollably above us. She must have wanted him to know... He must have wanted her to know... ...and now... no one knows. As we passed through all those paths in life—me holding your hand—I had to close my eyes, as fields of fire blazed when we passed so many memories. The gardens of our hearts outstretched with blossom and summer chores to be done and enjoyed. I saw him snatching a glance as I leaned over to his world. My hand in his—gripped—wishing I didn’t have to go. Knowing I wanted to haunt him for the rest of the days of his life. Fields of fire blazed when he spoke about a colour in the rainbow of my