The Dublin coroner’s court was informed on Tuesday that verdicts are near for the Stardust fire inquests. Jurors, comprising five men and seven women, communicated their progress to Dr Myra Cullinane, the Dublin coroner, via the jury foreman. There are a few matters to discuss with Dr Cullinane before lunch.
This marks their 10th day of deliberations. The jury has been analysing over 90 days worth of evidence pertaining to the disaster, with nearly 40 hours invested so far. The verdicts they are due to present relate to the deaths of each of the 48 victims, ranging in age from 16 to 27, who perished in the fire that engulfed the north Dublin nightclub in the early morning hours of 14th February, 1981.
The jury’s aim is to identify each victim and determine the date, location and cause of their deaths. They are to fill out verdicts according to the events of the fire. Verdicts can range from accidental death, misadventure, unlawful killing, open verdict to narrative verdict. The circumstances surrounding the fire itself must also be clarified.
The inquests, commencing in April 2023 after fervent advocacy by bereaved families, ran for 122 days. They featured testimonies from 373 witnesses, including the nightclub’s workers and clientele, bystanders who witnessed the fire, emergency services staff, and specialists in fire and pathology fields.
Dr Cullinane emphasised the objectivity and impartiality jurors should exercise in their decision-making last month. She reminded them there was no hurry in reaching a resolution. She guided them through the boundaries of considering a verdict of unlawful killing using presented evidences that illustrated alternate versions of events. She clarified that it was not within their nor her authority to pronounce any conclusions pertaining to criminal or civil liability of individuals.