"We want the memory of our loved ones honoured and a new inquiry into cause of STARDUST"

national | crime and justice | event notice Thursday March 02, 2006 13:51 by JOANNE

MARCH TO BERTIE AHERN'S OFFICE, DRUMCONDRA SAT. 4TH

Demonstrate Saturday 4th March . Assemble at Cat and Cage Pub, Drumcondra, at 10am and march to Bertie Ahern's office

The fire that engulfed Dublin's Stardust nightclub in the early hours of St Valentine's Day 1981 killed 48 children and young adults. Countless others were injured and they and their families continue to suffer emotionally, mentally and physically. Many others have comitted suicide as a direct result of the turmoi in their lives. These families have left for 25 years, and it is our moral duy to support them. Lets not wait until it the 30 year anninversary.

The official inquiry into the disaster found that the Stardust owners had acted with "reckless disregard" for the safety of their customers, but no charges were ever brought against them. In fact Butterley was awarded a substantial figure in damages for the loss of his business.

The inquiry didnot go far enough. Why despite numerous inspections of the Stardust by Dublin Corp., were the owners able to get away with repeated breaches of fire regulations and building bye-laws? What caused the flames to spread so rapidly?. Why were so people prevented from escaping by locked or chained exit doors? Why were steel plates fixed onto toilet windows preventing others from escaping.

The Stardust victims want the site to honour the 48 young people who died, not to be turned into another profit making pub for the owner who was responsible for locking the emergency exits on the original stardust. They want a full independent inquiry to re-examine the causes of the disaster given that new evidence has been uncovered.

Pickets continue at Butterelys garage