“I remember the build-up for weeks,” said Antoinette Keegan. “We were all looking forward to the big night out. It was fantastic.”
The venue was always busy, overcrowded even, and on that Friday huge numbers of young people were expected. The night was to be sponsored by international record label K-tel, the disco-dance competition overseen by five DJs, and a bar extension had been granted until 1am.Shortly after 1.40am, on the morning of February 14th, a small flame was seen on a seat at the back of a partitioned-off area known as the west alcove. It looked controllable.
On the direction of the then attorney general Séamus Woulfe in 2019, fresh inquests opened at Dublin Coroner’s Court on April 25th, 2023, sitting for more than 122 days and hearing from 373 witnesses. The majority were from the surrounding working-class areas of Coolock, Kilmore, Kilbarrack and Artane but they came too from Ringsend and Sandymount in Dublin; Kells in Co Meath, and from Derry and Belfast.It was located in a former jam and food-processing factory. It had been owned by R&W Scott Ltd but was bought by market-gardener Patrick Butterly in 1972. He changed the name of the company to Scotts Foods Ltd.
Despite having little experience in such a conversion project, he did not employ a qualified architect, turning instead to a local draughtsman, the late William White, to draw up plans. Dublin Corporation – now Dublin City Council – refused White’s three applications, between February 1976 and January 1977. The late Harold Gardner, also a draughtsman, took over in early 1977 and submitted new drawings seeking approval under building bylaws and bylaws for places of public resort.
Of 26 bylaws applicable to the Stardust, 16 would be breached, the inquests heard. The most fateful would centre around Eamon Butterly’s decision to line most of the Stardust’s internal walls with almost 3,000 PVC-backed polyester-fibre carpet-tiles rather than Tyrolean plaster as described in the planning drawings. The carpet-tiles, which would be central to the rapid spread of the inferno, were suggested by floor-coverings sales representative Declan Conway.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: IrishMirror - 🏆 4. / 98 Read more »
Jury begins deliberating on Stardust inquests verdictsThe jury in the Stardust inquests has today begun deliberating on its verdicts. It follows year-long hearings into the circumstances of the Artane nightclub fire. Forty eight people, aged between 16-27, lost their lives in the disaster which happened in the early hours of 14 February, 1981.
Source: rtenews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Stardust inquests jury continues deliberation on verdictsThe jury at the Stardust inquests have begun their second day of deliberating on its verdicts.
Source: rtenews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Source: NewstalkFM - 🏆 19. / 55 Read more »
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »
Stardust inquests jury to resume deliberations next weekThe jury at the Stardust inquests is to resume its deliberations next week following a third day considering their verdicts into the deaths of the 48 people who lost their lives in the 1981 fire.
Source: rtenews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »