Music
24 Jan 17

Stardust Tragedy: Independent Inquiry Looks Increasingly Likely

The events that took place on 14 February, 1981 have gone down in infamy. But the loss of 48 lives has never been investigated in a way that would satisfy the families of those who died or the victims who lived.

Independent TD Tommy Broughan, from Dublin Bay North, is within touching distance of establishing a commission of investigation into the notorious Stardust tragedy.

In what was one of the worst disasters ever in Ireland, a fire broke out on Valentine’s Day, 1981, in the Stardust nightclub in Artane – as a result of which 48 people died and many were injured. The nightclub was located where Butterly Business Park currently stands on Kilmore Road.

In July 1985, Christy Moore (pictured) recorded a song about the tragedy, entitled ‘They Never Came Home’. An acton taken by the owners of the nightclub led to the banning of the song, which had to be removed by order of the High Court from the Ordinary Man album on which it was released.

The events were also the subject of a book, They Never Came Home: The Stardust Story, by Neil Fetherstonhaugh and Tony McCullagh.

Talks are currently continuing between Fine Gael and its Coalition partners, the Independent Alliance, to agree a position on the private member's motion put to the Dáil by Broughan, the purpose of which is to establish a commission of investigation into the Stardust tragedy.

However, already Minister of State Finian McGrath has committed to supporting the motion.

The motion is critical of the Government's engagement with the victims' families. The Department of Justice rejects the accusation implicit i this – and the Government may seek to change the wording of the motion. However, there can be little doubt that the families have never been afforded the kind of public platform that would allow them to feel that the issues surrounding the tragic events were fully and comprehensively explored.

Minister McGrath, in whose constituency the tragedy took place, has said that he wants a free vote, so that he can support the motion. He insists that new information has emerged, sufficient to warrant an inquiry.

A vote on the issue will take place in the Dáil later this week.

Irrespective of what the Government ultimately decides, if Fianna Fáil support the motion – and the indications are that they are likely to – the Fine Gael led Government is likely to face its fifth Dáil defeat.

Discussions on the Stardust form part of a wide-ranging agenda for this morning's scheduled Cabinet meeting. Among the other items is a definition of sexual consent, which Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald is seeking to include in an amendment to legislation already published.