Emotional scenes as Stardust inquest unlawful killing verdict delivered in case of all 48 victims of horror blaze | 94J0BCN | 2024-04-24 00:08:01
THE jury has returned a verdict of unlawful killing in each of the cases of the 48 people who died in the Stardust tragedy.
Families in court today cheered and applauded as the verdict was read out.
Some Stardust family members jumped to their feet and clapped at the verdict, while some sat in their seats and were moved to tears.
Others embraced each other as soon as "unlawful killing" was said by the foreman of the jury.
Family members of the 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust fire tragedy had packed into the Pillar Room in Dublin from earlier this morning to hear the outcome of a year-long inquest into the deaths.
Some wore 'they never came home' T-shirts and others held framed photos of their loved ones.
More chairs were carried in from adjoining rooms to seat family members, while barristers and legal teams gave up their seats so the families could sit down.
The devastating blaze at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, north Dublin, broke out in the early hours of Valentine's Day 1981.
The jury foreman said it had reached the same verdict into the deaths of each individual, which will be delivered after matters relating to their identification and cause of death are dealt with.
Directed by Ireland's attorney general, the inquests have been the longest held in Ireland, with proceedings commencing one year ago.
After the verdicts were delivered, family members hugged their legal representatives.
Others wiped away tears. One member of the jury became visibly emotional.
The coroner thanked the jury for their service, stating that "the passing of years hasn't diminished the horror of some of the evidence that you have heard".
At that point, families of the victims stood up in unison and applauded the jury members at length, with one person shouting "thank you".
THE families of the Stardust dead were forced to begin campaigning just days after the fire. They knew then, and would be reminded for the next 43 years, they would have to fight with everything they had.
</div> Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane paid tribute to the "persistence and commitment" of the families who had campaigned for fresh inquests.
She said: "To the families I acknowledge the deaths of these 48 young people is a source of ongoing grief to those who loved them and it remains the defining loss of their lives.
"However, I hope that family members will have taken some solace from the fact that these fresh inquests were held, that the facts surrounding the deaths were examined in detail, that moving testimony was heard from many of those involved in the events of the night and, most importantly, that you the families felt fully involved in proceedings, however difficult it was to hear all of the evidence.
"The fact that these inquests have been held at all is in no small part due to the persistence and commitment of families over the years.
"And, finally, we remember those 48 young people who lost their lives on that fateful night.
"It is their lives that we've sought to vindicate by way of these inquests."
Taoiseach Simon Harris has told the families of the deceased that they "never gave up on justice for them, you never let Ireland forget about them".
He said in a statement: "The Stardust tragedy was one of the darkest moments in our history, a heartbreaking tragedy because of the lives that were lost, the families that were changed forever, and the long, drawn-out struggle for justice that followed.
"Today we remember the 48 people who lost their lives, all those who were injured, and all those whose lives were marked forever by the tragedy.
"For over four decades, the families of the victims have carried the weight of this tragedy with unwavering strength and dignity.
"Their relentless pursuit of truth and accountability, their profound commitment to justice, even in the face of overwhelming challenges and setbacks, was not only a fight for their loved ones but a campaign to ensure that such a disaster never happens again.
"Their courageous campaign demands our respect and our support.
"They never stopped searching for answers, for justice, and for some form of peace. We best honour all those who died by ensuring that the voices of their loved ones are heard and acted upon.
"The Government will consider this verdict in full and the recommendations of the jury.
"I want to acknowledge and thank the coroner, and her team and the jurors.
"48 young people never came home that night, but as Taoiseach I want to say this to their families; You never gave up on justice for them, you never let Ireland forget about them.
"They were never alone, and our country owes you a great debt for that."
Earlier today, the Tanaiste said all of the Dail's thoughts were with the families of those who died in the Stardust tragedy.
Micheal Martin said: "For over 40 years, the families have pursued the search for truth and justice, and in a couple of hours' time, we will hear the verdict of the Dublin Coroner's Court.
"This will be a huge moment for the families and indeed for the entire country, because the Stardust tragedy is seared on the collective consciousness of the Irish people and the tenacity of the families and their success in securing this inquest has been a service to all in society."
More >> https://ift.tt/CT0sfek Source: MAG NEWS