Families of the 48 young people who died in the Stardust fire almost 28 years ago said today they had been vindicated in their campaign to find the truth of what happened.
Although the grieving families lost their long-running battle for a fresh inquiry into the blaze, an independent review ruled there was no evidence to prove the cause of the nightclub fire in Artane, Dublin, in 1981 was arson.
The Government acknowledged today's report and made it clear that none of the victims of the Stardust disaster or those present at the Stardust on the night of the fire could be held responsible for the blaze.
An independent examination into whether a fresh inquiry should be opened into the Valentine's Day disaster concluded that it would not be in the public interest to establish a new investigation.
An inquiry established by the Government after the 1981 tragedy stated the cause of the inferno was probable arson, but the families of those who died battled for almost three decades to have the evidence re-examined.
The latest report, which was compiled by Paul Coffey SC and published this afternoon, said that a new inquiry would "at best produce a hypothetical finding of no forensic value". Mr Coffey's report also found there was no evidence the fire was caused deliberately, as found in an official inquiry into the blaze in 1981.
Antoinette Keegan, who lost her sisters Martina and Mary in the inferno, said the outcome was a victory for the dead.
“We were fighting for the truth to be put on public record, that the cause of the fire was not arson, and our day has come,” said Ms Keegan.
“Although we wanted a new inquiry into the cause of the fire, we are satisfied that the truth has been confirmed. This day is for the 48 victims that lost their lives almost 28 years ago. It was a fight, a long campaign for justice for them, and we have done it. They gave us great strength and determination."
"This is for each and every one of those victims. May they rest in peace that the arson theory is gone. I hope they do rest in peace.”
Mr Coffey examined the case submitted by the families of the Stardust victims for a reopened inquiry.
His completed report was given to the Government on December 16th and referred to the Attorney General for legal advice.
Four relatives held a three- day sit-in at Government Buildings last week in order to get a date for the release. They had expected to be given a copy before Christmas and wanted it before the 28th anniversary of the fire on February 14th.
A statement from the Department of the Taoiseach said that Mr Coffey reported that no new or existing evidence has been found which would establish the exact cause of the fire.
In the report, Mr Coffey stated that while it could be argued that a further inquiry might establish whether the fire began in the West Alcove or in the roof space the public interest would not be served in establishing a further inquiry solely for that purpose.
However, he recommended that the Government should consider whether it could correct the public record by placing on the record of the Daíl and Seanad an acknowledgement that there is no evidence that the fire was started deliberately and that the cause of the fire is unknown.
In its report dated June 30th,1982 which made findings and recommendations in relation to a very broad range of issues, the original Stardust tribunal found, inter alia, that the fire started in the West Alcove of the Ballroom and that the fire was probably started deliberately.
That finding that the fire was probably started deliberately provoked anger and indignation among the survivors and the bereaved, who felt aggrieved at the insinuation that the fire was deliberately set by a member of their own community and possibly even by a patron who died or was injured, Mr Coffey's report said today.
In its statement, the Government today acknowledged there was nothing to suggest that the fire was started deliberately.
The Government also said it accepts Mr Coffey's recommendation that a committee be established to monitor the progress of the victims and families of the tragedy and to ensure that any outstanding counselling and medical treatment is offered to the survivors and the bereaved.
Additional reporting: PA
