Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has called for a new Commission of Inquiry to be established into the Stardust tragedy. The Sinn Féin TD said that 36 years on the families of those who lost their lives in the Stardust tragedy have still not got the full truth about how their loved ones died.

Teachta Seán Crowe said:

“For a whole generation of us, who were teenagers or in our early twenties when the fire in the Stardust complex happened, it changed us forever.

“48 people died and 214 people were injured on that fateful Valentines night. Thirty six years later the families who have fought tirelessly for answers have still not got the full truth about how their loved ones died.

“There are huge questions still remaining about the totally inadequate way in which the tragedy was investigated and dealt with by the institutions of this State.

“The original Keane inquiry into the Stardust fire claimed that it was caused by ‘probable arson’. That finding was overturned in 2009, as a result of the independent examination by Paul Coffey SC.

“This led to a correction of the public record which exonerated all those present in the Stardust nightclub from any blame.

“The owners of the complex, the Butterly family, were nevertheless allowed to pursue their claim for compensation against the arson finding and were awarded £580,000.

“The families of victims of the Stardust tragedy are now seeking a new Commission of Investigation into this dreadful tragedy. They maintain they have new evidence from eye witnesses that was ignored or over looked in the past.

“I was disappointed that a Private Members Motion to establish such a commission was rejected by the Government, with the support of Fianna Fáil, as they put forward an alternative involving an independent legal expert first reviewing this new evidence.

“This will be another delay and another postponement for the families who are still waiting for answers and justice 36 years later.”

ENDS