Stardust owner believed premises was ‘fireproof’ and had been ‘deliberately burned’

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Inquests hear evidence from Patrick Butterly, now dead, that Dublin Corporation should have ‘said what to do’

He said he believed the building, which had been converted from a jam factory into the Stardust in 1978, was “fireproof” because “it had a grade one from the insurance company”.“I presume it did. I am not sure,” he replied. The following day he was asked what he meant by “fireproof”.“As far as I was concerned, except it was deliberately burned. And I still think that.”

Pauline McConalogue, a 17-year-old waitress in the Stardust on the night, was collecting glasses at tables in a tiered seating area at about 1.45am when she saw a fire well under way, she told the inquests. “The DJ asked patrons not to panic but there was panic. I went towards my left as I faced the stage. I just got a short distance when the lights went out. The place was a mass of flames and the smoke was terrible. I saw the ceiling start to burn and collapse.

“We couldn’t see where the fire exits were. I had never had a fire drill while I was working there. I didn’t know where to go or what to do ... I recall going in the direction and falling and everyone was on top of each other ... I feel at that time I was just dragged out [by] some fellah.”

 

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