Stardust victims to receive State remembrance ceremony in their honour

A ceremony to honour the 48 people who died in the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire is set to be held on June 27.

A location has yet to be confirmed, but it is understood that the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin is likely to be the venue.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that after meeting with the families of the victims last month, he was committed to holding a ceremony in their honour.

"This will be a moment to remember those who lost their lives, but I also hope it will be a moment for those injured, those who fought to save lives and those who fought for decades to have the 48 victims and their good names fully vindicated", he said.

The original Hot Press report on the Stardust disaster

The Taoiseach extended an apology to the families of victims last month, following inquests into the deaths of those who died after a fire engulfed the Artane nightclub .

"Today we say formally and without equivocation — we are sorry,” he said. “We failed you when you needed us most from the very beginning. We have stood with you, but instead we forced you to stand against us."

Last month a jury ruled that the victims were unlawfully killed. The inquiry, which lasted for over a year, also found that the fire started in the club's hot press due to an electrical fault.

Families and loved ones of the victims have welcomed the prospect of a remembrance ceremony. "For 42 years, the families have had to organise and fund remembrance ceremonies," said Justice For Stardust 48 on X. "We thank the government for this."