Bonus: The Darkest Hour: The Stardust Victims
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On Valentine’s Day 1981, a devastating fire ripped through the Stardust nightclub in Artane, North Dublin. The fire began in the roof space. Accusations of arson were levied against the victims and survivors beginning on the night of the fire, even as first responders were pulling bodies out of the charred building. These accusations followed the survivors and victim’s families for 43 years but were ultimately proven to be false.
The families of the 48 victims who died in the Stardust fire fought for recognition for more than four decades, before a coroner’s inquest was granted in 2023. Earlier this month, April 2024, a jury of thirteen members delivered a verdict of unlawful killing in all 48 deaths. They also definitively identified the cause of the blaze, not as arson, but as through an electrical fault.
You can read about the mechanics of this fire, how it happened, how it spread and some of the devastation that it caused here. This episode takes a deeper look into the human side of the tragedy and focuses on the victims.
Conditions on the Night of the Fire
A total of 48 people died in the Stardust nightclub fire. A further 214 were injured, with some of the victims dying days or weeks later in hospital from excruciating injuries. At least 25 attempted suicides have been linked to the aftermath of the fire, including survivors and family members of the victims who perished in the fire.
The fire started through an electrical fault near a storeroom that housed flammable items, such as cooking oil and aerosols. The false ceiling and carpet tiles attached to PVC walls allowed the fire to rapidly spread. A flashover caused the lights to fail, plunging the venue into darkness.
The Class Bias
There was also a huge class bias, which many of the families felt worked against them in how they were viewed and treated by authorities, the media and various State bodies investigating the case. Dublin North East, where most of the victims of the Stardust fire were from, is overwhelmingly working class.
A lot of people felt as if the victims, survivors, and their families were not taken as seriously by the establishment, because they were working class. They were viewed as being disposable, and even accused of being responsible for the tragedy once accusations of arson were rampant in the media. This has similarities to how the crowd crush victims of the Hillsborough disaster in April 1989 were treated by police and the media in the UK.
The Stardust Victims
Now, I would like to tell you a little bit about each of the victims that didn’t survive the Stardust nightclub fire. This is just a glimpse or a snapshot into who they were. It’s difficult to capture a life in just a few sentences, but each of these people mattered to a great many people, and their loss deserves to be recognised.
Paul Wade & Susan Morgan
Paul Wade, 17, of Edenmore, and girlfriend Susan ‘Susie’ Morgan, 19, of Derry, arrived at the Stardust at 11pm. Paul’s brother saw the two on the dance floor at approximately 1am. Witnesses recall seeing Susan sitting at a table with friends when the fire began. Susan’s employer, a nun from Nazareth House care home on the Malahide Road, identified her remains through a ring with an inscription on it. Paul’s remains were not positively identified until 2007 when DNA analysis was used. He was reburied by his family.
Margaret Thornton & Murtagh Kavanagh
Margaret Thornton, 19, of Dublin 8, attended the dance with her boyfriend, Murtagh ‘Murty’ Kavanagh, 27, of Coolock. It’s not known what time the couple arrived, but they were later spotted sitting in the north alcove. While Margaret’s remains were identified at the city morgue, Murtagh would not be positively identified until 2007, made possible with advancements in DNA analysis. Speaking recently, Margaret’s sister, Patricia Greene said, ‘I think a part of all of us died that day, but for our mother, I think the best part of her died with her youngest daughter, Margaret. I don’t think she was ever happy again’.
John Stout & Helena Mangan
John Stout, 18, and girlfriend, Helena Mangan, 22, both of Coolock, attended the nightclub together. Their exact movements once inside the venue are unknown. Both Helena and John were identified through dental records, Helena on the 17th of February, and John on the 30th of March. Helena left behind a young daughter, Samantha.
Brendan O’Meara
Brendan O’Meara, 23, of Coolock, arrived at the Stardust at around midnight, and was seated in the north alcove. It’s believed that the flames were visible from the roof of the building for up to eight minutes before they were noticeable to those in the main ballroom inside the venue. Witnesses saw Brendan running towards the main entrance once patrons realised what was happening. He was taken to Jervis Street Hospital in the city centre but died 11 days later from complications. He was badly burned and was identified by his brother.
George O’Connor
George O’Connor, 17, was from Coolock. He arrived at the Stardust at 11pm to meet up with friends and was seated in the north alcove for most of the night. He was last seen on the dance floor and was formally identified from dental records two days after the fire.
George’s sister Donna O’Connor describes her final memory of her older brother being him getting dressed for the Stardust dance competition, and then being handed a bag of his partially burned clothes at the morgue, barely days later. She said, ‘two things in life change you and you’re never the same: love and grief’.
Kathleen Muldoon & Gerard McGrath
Kathleen Muldoon, 19, of Kells, County Meath, attended the disco with her friend, Gerard McGrath, 21, of Coolock. Not much is known about the pair’s whereabouts in the nightclub once the fire broke out. A friend identified Kathleen’s remains through jewellery, and Gerard was identified through dental records.
David Morton
David Morton, 19, arrived at the Stardust with colleagues from Superquinn. His girlfriend, Martina Keegan was also there, along with her sisters Martina and Antoinette. David was last spotted seated in the north alcove. His father identified his remains at the city morgue through a ring she had been wearing.
James Millar & Robert Hillick
Jim Millar and Robert Hillick, both 20 were from Twinbrook in Belfast. Jim’s father had encouraged his son to move to Dublin to escape the Troubles unfolding in Northern Ireland. He thought that Jim would be safer in Dublin. His sister, Laura, said that both their father, and younger brother, Martin, who was 12 at the time, blamed themselves for Jim’s death.
His father, because he encouraged him to relocate to Dublin, and his younger brother, because the last words he had said to his brother had been in anger after a fight. As Jim walked out the front door to return to Dublin, Martin shouted at him, ‘I wish you were dead’. Jim attended the disco with his good friend, Robert. Both Robert and Jim’s last known location inside the venue are unknown. A friend confirmed Jim’s identity, while Robert’s brother identified his at the city morgue through a bracelet.
Caroline McHugh
Caroline McHugh, 17, arrived at the club at 10:30pm. At 1:45am, while patrons became aware of the fire, Caroline was seen leaving the dance floor and walking back towards her table to get her coat. Her parents, Maurice and Phyllis identified her remains later that same day. She was their only child. Maurice and Phyllis gave a joint statement at the inquest into their daughter’s death, saying that there isn’t a day that goes by that they don’t think about their beautiful daughter. She now lies ‘in a cold grave buried six-foot underground, marked by a black marble stone engraved with her name on it’.
Julie & Teresa McDonnell
Sisters, Julie, and Teresa McDonnell, aged 16 and 20, respectively, were from Coolock. Julie had arrived at the Stardust with her brother and two other sisters at 10:30pm. Her older sister, Teresa arrived shortly after this, at 11pm. Teresa spoke to her sister, Lorraine, and some friends, before moving to the dance floor. The group sat in the north alcove. Teresa was the first of the group to notice the flames, and alerted the group, who began to move towards an exit. Teresa was last seen walking back towards the ballroom to find her sister. Julie and her other siblings escaped the building unharmed, but it’s believed that she went back in to find Teresa. Neither sister left the building again. Both Julie and Teresa were identified at the city morgue by jewellery and clothing.
Georgie, Willie & Marcella McDermott
Siblings Georgie, 18, Willie, 22 and Marcella McDermott, 16, of Edenmore, arrived at the Stardust separately. Georgie arrived with friends at 11:00pm and sat in the north alcove. Marcella arrived at 11:30pm, and Georgie at midnight. Georgie was last seen dancing with friends. Marcella was seen heading towards Exit 3, and there is no last known location recorded for Willie. An uncle identified Willie at the morgue, and another sister identified Georgie. Marcella’s identity was confirmed through dental records. They left behind five other siblings. Their father was a fire fighter, who had been off duty on the night of the fire.
Donna Mahon
Donna Mahon, 17, of Edenmore, arrived at the Stardust with her sister Bernie and some friends at midnight. They sat at a table in the middle of the north alcove. Donna was on the dance floor when the fire started and was last seen alive in the foyer of Exit 2. Her old sister, Teresa recalls teaching Donna to play dominos on the floor of their parents’ home that evening, before she left to meet her friends.
Teresa would later identify Donna’s body at the city morgue by a bracelet that she had given to her just weeks earlier. Donna’s other sister Bernie survived, but was hospitalised for some time, and was not told about Donna’s death for some time after the funeral had taken place.
Eamonn Loughman
Eamonn Loughman, 18, of Beaumont arrived with a friend at 11:40pm. He was last seen running towards Exit 5, standing on tables to avoid the surging crowd. His remains were positively identified through DNA analysis in 2007.
Paula Lewis & Sandra Lawless
Friends, Paula Lewis, 19 and Sandra Lawless, 18, both from Coolock, arrived at the club at 11pm. They took at table in the north alcove. Both girls were last seen trying to get to Exit 5. Neither of them made it out of the building alive. Paula’s uncle identified her remains through clothing and jewellery. Sandra was also identified through jewellery.
Maureen & Francis Lawlor
Francis Lawlor, 25, and his wife, Maureen Lawlor, 26, both of Finglas, arrived at the Stardust at 11:30pm. A friend saw the couple leaving the dance floor shortly after they became aware of the fire. Maureen was last seen by witnesses near a partition area in the middle of the dance floor, with Maureen shouting, ‘there’s a fire’. Maureen was identified using X-ray equipment, and Francis, by his brother, from a gold bracelet he had been wearing. They left behind a young infant daughter, Lisa.
Margaret Kiernan
Margaret Kiernan, 18, of Coolock, arrived with friends at midnight. They sat at a table in the west alcove of the nightclub. The last reported sighting of Margaret was near the payphone at the bottom of the stairs, heading towards Exit 2. Her father identified her remains through an eternity ring that her mother had given her.
Mary Kenny
Mary Kenny, 19, of Coolock, arrived at the nightclub at 10:30pm. She sat with friends, including Mary Keegan, in the north alcove. Mary was last seen holding hands with her friends as they tried to make their way towards Exit 4. Mary’s sister, Carol, identified her remains through jewellery.
Marie Kennedy & Robert Kelly
Marie Kennedy, 17, of Kilbarrack, arrived at the Stardust a little after 10:30pm. She spent most of the evening with friends and was last seen on the dance floor with Robert Kelly, 17, of Edenmore. Marie was rushed to Jervis Street Hospital, and attempts were made to resuscitate her. She was pronounced dead, and her father identified her remains at the morgue later that day. Robert’s remains were identified through dental records.
Mary & Martina Keegan
Sisters, Mary, and Martina Keegan, aged 19 and 16, respectively, arrived at the Stardust separately. Martina and her sister Antoinette arrived at 10:20pm, and met up with Mary once inside the venue. Antoinette last saw Mary and Martina on the dance floor when the fire started. Both Martina and Mary were making their way towards Exit 4. Martina’s mother identified her remains through two rings she had been wearing. A friend identified Mary through a necklace. A TV series dramatising the events of the Stardust fire, called Stardust, aired in 2006, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. The show concentrated on the stories of several families, including that of the Keegan family.
Eugene Hogan
Eugene Hogan, 24, of Edenmore, attended the disco with his wife, Marie, brother, and some friends. The group were dancing when they noticed the fire. Eugene went back to get their coats and began walking up the stairs. This is when the lights failed. He wasn’t seen alive again after this point. His brother identified his remains the next day at the city morgue.
Brian Hobbs
Brian Hobbs, 21, of Whitehall, arrived at the nightclub at 11:45pm, meeting up with friends who were already there, including Caroline Carey, who would also die in the fire. Brian was last seen sitting at a table, but when a friend tried to find him, he couldn’t. His brother confirmed Brian’s identity at the city morgue through his clothing, including a metal belt buckle.
Caroline Carey
Caroline Carey, 17, of Coolock, had recently started working for a local authority, Dublin Corporation, now known as Dublin City Council. Caroline was 18 weeks pregnant on the night of the fire and had only recently disclosed this to her parents. She arrived with friends and her boyfriend at 11:15pm and sat at a table in the north alcove. When they became aware of the fire, they couldn’t get out of the building. Instead, they found their way to the toilets.
All of the windows in the bathrooms had metal bars and metal plates welded to the inside and outside of the frames, so once there, they were also unable to escape. Caroline’s boyfriend survived, but Caroline wasn’t so lucky. She was pronounced dead at Richmond Hospital at 3:30am. Her uncle identified her remains at the city morgue. As mentioned in the last episode, Caroline’s family would like her unborn child to be recognised as another victim of the Stardust fire.
Michael Griffiths
Michael Griffiths, 18, of Kilmore, arrived at 10:15pm. They found seats at ground level in the north alcove. He was last seen alive by friends dancing close to Exit 5, but like so many, didn’t make it out alive. His father identified him at the city morgue through a necklace.
Josephine Glen
Josephine Glen, 16, of Coolock was one of the first patrons to arrive and entered the Stardust nightclub at 10:10pm. Josephine and a friend sat at a table in the north alcove, five or six tables away from Exit 5. As the fire grew, Josephine ran, along with friends towards the nearest exit. A paramedic found her lying on the ground outside the building at 2:30am. She was taken to Jervis Street Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on the 19th of February. Her brother identified her body.
Michael Farrell & Thelma Frazer
Michael Farrell, 26, of Coolock attended the disco with his girlfriend, Thelma Frazer, 20, of Sandymount. In the chaos, witnesses were unable to confirm Michael and Thelma’s last known location within the venue. Michael’s sister identified him by a watch he was wearing. Thelma’s brother identified her remains on the 16th of February at the city morgue, through a necklace and watch. Both identifications were confirmed through comparing dental records.
David Flood
David Flood, 18, of Beaumont, arrived at the Stardust with friends at 11:30pm. They sat close to the main bar in the north alcove. By 1:30am, just as the fire was taking hold, David was seen asleep at his table. His friends tried to wake him and move him towards an exit, but he didn’t make it out. A friend, and neighbour, formally identified David’s remains at the city morgue the next day.
Michael Ffrench
Michael Ffrench, 18, of Coolock met up with friends and headed to the nightclub, arriving at 11:15pm. The group sat in the north alcove. Michael did not survive the fire, and his remains were exhumed in 2007, to be positively identified using DNA analysis. He was reburied by his family.
Liam Dunne
Liam Dunne, 18, of Coolock arrived at the Stardust at 11:30pm, along with friends. He was last seen inside the ballroom in front of the stage. He was taken by ambulance to the Mater Hospital, where he died on the 11th of March. He was positively identified by his father.
Jacqueline Croker
Jacqueline Croker, 18, of Kilmore arrived at the Stardust at midnight. She sat with friends at a table in the north alcove. Witnesses reported that Jacqueline was last seen running, but that she tripped and fell, becoming trapped. Her fiancé identified her remains at the city morgue through her engagement ring.
John Colgan
John Colgan, 21, of Swords, arrived at the club at 11:30pm. He was part of a larger group of friends attending the event. They sat at a table at the very back of the north alcove. Witnesses report that John was almost out of the building, when he realised that his car keys were in his coat, which was at the table. He returned to retrieve these but couldn’t get back out. He was last seen alive, just 5 metres from Exit 5, being pulled towards the exit by others also trying to escape. He didn’t make it out. An uncle identified John’s remains at the city morgue from a distinctive bracelet and watch he had been wearing.
Paula Byrne
Paula Byrne, 19, of Coolock arrived with friends at 11pm, and found a table in the north alcove. By the time the fire broke out, Paula was seen dancing near to the stage. Her body was identified three days later from dental records.
Jimmy Buckley
Jimmy Buckley, 23, of Donnycarney arrived at the nightclub at midnight, along with his wife Christine. The pair sat with friends, five tables from Exit 1. The group were celebrating, as Jimmy’s brother Errol had had won the dance competition earlier in the evening. Jimmy became trapped, while his wife and brother managed to escape. Christine identified her husband’s remains from his wedding ring the next day.
Carol Bissett
Carol Bissett, 18, of Ringsend, arrived at 11:20pm, along with two friends, Catherine Moore, and Tina Brazil. They were celebrating Catherine’s 18th birthday. Carol was on the dancefloor when the fire broke out, and made her way to Exit 5, along with many other people. She was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment. Her mother, Betty, was advised by medics not to see her daughter for a couple of days, until she was better. Carol spent several days in intensive care, and Betty never got to see her daughter again. Carol succumbed to her injuries four days later. Her father confirmed her identity.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett, 17, of Coolock, arrived with his friend group at 11:30pm. He was last seen with his friend group sitting at a table. His remains were not definitely identified until they were exhumed and tested for DNA in 2007.
Michael Barrett
Michael Barrett, 17, of Edenmore, arrived at the venue at approximately 9pm to work. He spent most of the night helping the DJs. He was last seen standing left of the main stage. His body was identified by dental records three days after the fire. Michael’s mother, Gertrude, said that she never, ‘for one fleeting moment’ gave up the fight to vindicate her son. She said that ‘I’m on this mission from the night I ran out the door looking for him’. ‘It was left to his mammy though to do it, which is an absolutely horrendous slight on the Irish state’.
The Aftermath
This was an unprecedented event, and authorities were ill-prepared to deal with the unfolding crisis. There was no coordinated effort to deal with the dead and dying, and certainly no plan to communicate with or process the questions that family members had.
Parents were forced to travel to the site of the blaze, then go from hospital to hospital, hoping that they would find their children there. When they didn’t, they were simply directed to the city morgue, and presented with set after set of charred remains. Unrecognisable to the human eye, other than through items that didn’t burn in the fire, such as jewellery, as we have seen with many of the victims. The cause of death for all victims of the Stardust fire was determined to be rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes, and heat.
The affected communities in Dublin North East, and beyond, were devastated. They felt a palpable loss of life and of hope. There were weeks of back-to-back funerals, one after another, and all to packed out churches. When a major tragedy like this hits a community, it reverberates. The mood on the streets was sombre. Neighbours met each other on the street, but no one smiled. There was little to be joyful about. Why smile when a family are planning another funeral? It was a prolonged grief.
In 2006, during what would have been the 25th anniversary of the fire, Stardust owner, Eamon Butterly, attempted to re-open licensed premises on the former site of the Stardust. This was met with contempt by the survivors and victim’s families. There were 10-weeks of protests, that only ended when the Butterly family agreed to erect a memorial on the site.
Government Apology
In a formal State apology on Tuesday the 23rd of April 2024, An Taoiseach, Simon Harris apologised, stating that the families of the victims were ‘forced to endure a living nightmare’. On behalf of the Irish government, Harris stated that ‘we say formally and without any equivocation we are sorry. We failed you when you needed us the most’.
‘For all of this as Taoiseach, on behalf of this state, I apologise unreservedly to all the families of the Stardust victims and all the survivors for the hurt that was done to them and for the profoundly painful years of struggle for the truth’.
The Irish police, An Garda Síochana are currently reviewing case files from the 1980s, alongside the coroner’s inquest report, to see if the threshold can be met for criminal charges to be made relating to the 1981 fire.
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