Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a very historic day but also a very emotional one for the families of the victims and for the survivors of the Stardust tragedy. The fire in the Stardust nightclub in Artane in February 1981 was truly horrific. Forty-eight young lives were lost and more than 200 people were injured.

Since that night, the families have campaigned tirelessly to establish exactly what happened, determine the cause of the fire and get justice and the truth for their loved ones.

As a teenager, I once attended the Stardust for a ballad session. Following my election to Dublin City Council in 1985 to represent Artane, I was happy to work with the Stardust Victims Committee and, in particular, with the late Christine Keegan, who was a wonderful woman. They actively pursued a number of issues including various planning applications in respect of the Butterly Business Park and the provision of a Stardust Memorial Park in Bonnybrook. The history of the 43-year-long campaign to get justice and the truth is well documented but I would like to focus a little on the 1982 Keane tribunal report. While it did some good work in making recommendations to ensure that such a fire never happened again, a key demand of the Stardust Victims Committee, its finding that the cause of the fire was probably arson was incredibly insensitive and was very wrong.

The Ireland of the early 1980s was a very different place. We had a hierarchical society. The Kerry babies' tribunal is also evidence of this. Even by the standards of that time, however, the finding was appalling. For my own part, I genuinely believe that I consistently followed up any of issues the committee asked me to pursue. I raised various matters in the Dáil. I wrote to the relevant Ministers as requested. If I am honest, this was not enough. I also admit that my relations with the committee were at times at fraught. I do regret that. I admit too that when Pat McCartan issued his finding in 2017 to the effect that no new inquiry was warranted, I could not see how the case could be advanced further. The decision to seek a new inquest was an inspired one. I am in awe of the persistence of the families at that dark time to continue the fight. They did so with determination and great dignity.

We can go into all these matters at another time. Today, the families have got the long overdue State apology. That the State failed them is clearly evident, and they have every right to be angry about what happened. In due course, attention can be paid to other issues that now need to be attended to. Planning for a suitable State commemoration for all those who died should now be commenced in consultation with the families. Today we remember in a very special way the 48 victims of the Stardust fire. I hope that the State apology from the Taoiseach, which we have just heard, will bring some closure for the families and restore the identity and dignity of all those who perished in the terrible fire on St. Valentine's Day in 1981.

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