Stardust relatives call for memorial service

Relatives of those killed in the Stardust fire have called on the Government to hold an official memorial service for the 48 …

Relatives of those killed in the Stardust fire have called on the Government to hold an official memorial service for the 48 victims.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the fire which broke out at a nightclub in Artane, Dublin.

Ms Christine Keegan, whose daughters, Mary and Martina, died, said she had asked the Government for an official service.

"They've forgotten about the 48, but the families haven't forgotten . . . They hold services for people killed in Lebanon so why not for our children?"

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She said she would be putting pressure on the Government to hold the service at next year's anniversary.

A "healing night" for bereaved families will be held tonight at the Athletic Union League complex in Clonshaugh at 8.30 p.m.

Ms Keegan said the evening had been organised for the families to meet, some of whom have since moved away,

Masses for victims and families were held at churches around Dublin on Sunday.

The dead were mostly young people attending a Valentine's Day disco. In some cases several members of the same family died.

A tribunal of inquiry was set up to investigate what happened on the night and found that the owner of the Stardust, Mr Eamon Butterly, had kept exit doors locked or obstructed in breach of fire regulations.

The tribunal also found he had failed to use fire-resistant wall linings and that no member of staff had fire-safety training.

Although a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions no one was charged.

The Stardust Victims' Compensation Tribunal awarded money to the victims and families, but cases could not subsequently be taken against the Butterly business once compensation had been accepted. Ms Keegan received £7,500 for each of her daughters.

Relatives were still angry that no one was charged after the fire, Ms Keegan said. She added that the families were concerned that fire safety regulations were still not adhered to.

She said compensation given to the families amounted to "buttons". "A lot of people are bitter over the money," she said.

Mr Michael Fitzsimons, chairman of the Chief Fire Officers' Association, said regulations were being broken in public venues throughout the State. He also criticised the lack of training on fire safety.