A burst of jubilation echoed throughout Dublin’s coroner’s court when the jury delivered a verdict of “unlawful killing” for the 48 victims of the Stardust fire in 1981. Families who had filled the spacious Pillar Room at the Rotunda Hospital couldn’t contain their emotions and celebrated the verdict, shedding tears of relief after waiting four decades for justice.
Many elderly parents received embraces from their grown children while even court officials and media representatives were seen wiping away tears. The elation continued at the Garden of Remembrance, where families expressed their relief, joy but also pent-up anger, asserting their need for an official apology from the State.
Antoinette Keegan, a Stardust fire survivor who tragically lost her younger sisters Mary and Martina, expressed her feeling of being “overwhelmed” by the verdict. She felt vindicated as the long-disputed truth about the locked doors was confirmed by the inquest.
On the other hand, Alison Croker, whose sister Jacqueline perished in the blaze, declared her satisfaction with the verdict but insisted that the Irish State should express remorse for the continual suffering families had endured.
Paul Morgan travelled from Derry for the result of the inquest regarding his sister, Susan. He recounted his heartbreaking memory of identifying his sister by her signature ring and cardigan. He shared his mixed feelings of happiness for the families and personal sorrow.
Paul Lawless, father of victim Sandra Lawless, described the verdict as an excellent outcome and the start of the healing process. Standing beside his surviving children, he also acknowledged the comfort the inquests provided but admitted that the painful memories resurfaced during the process.
With importance stressed to understand the series of events, siblings aimed to avoid distressing their parents with constant inquiries. The answers they sought were finally attained, although their mother, Bridget, couldn’t witness the day. Gertrude Barrett, 80, who experienced the heart-wrenching loss of her 17-year-old son, Michael, never doubted the final judgement. She confessed her longing for the verdict since the night unending search for her missing son began. This day, she affirmed, belongs to her deceased son and others who met the same fate.
Living far away in Belfast, Laura Millar, being the last living relative of her 20-year-old brother Jim Millar, expressed her feelings of exhilaration mixed with sadness. Her parents, Norah and James, sadly couldn’t witness the day when justice and truth finally emerged. Representing her mother Brigid McDermott, Louise McDermott, addressed the press about her mother’s loss of triplets – 16-year-old Marcella, 18-year-old George, and 22-year-old William. Demanding justice for the unjustified death of her siblings made it an emotionally charged day for all present there. The battle for truth lasted for 43 long years, she lamented, while stating that this predicament could have been avoided long ago.
Addressing the departed 48, she treated them as being rescued from the horrifying fire of Stardust, and returned to the love, light, and melody awaiting them. Samantha Mangan, who was left motherless at the tender age of 4 after her mother Helena Mangan and her boyfriend John Stout became victims of that fatal night, finally found an answer to her 43-year-long question of what and why it happened. Finally, justice and truth illuminated the incident that had occurred that night.
Representing her parents and her lost brother John Colgan, Susan Behan recollected being a 22-year-old with numerous dreams and hopes. After an agonising wait of 43 years, she could finally comprehend her brother’s fate. With knowledge, she articulated, came justice for all 48 lives that ended prematurely.
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