Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Much has been said today. I hope that, for the families of those who lost their loved ones and for the survivors, the State apology and the words spoken here today can do something to provide the solace, truth and justice they have fought for and long deserved. I am very conscious that I am not qualified to know or understand the pain, loss, injustice, trauma and hardship you have endured as a result of the loss of your loved ones and the obstacles that have been put in your way for 43 years as you have tried to get the truth and justice you deserve. I can only say what I know that some of you feel and that I suspect all of you feel, which is that it is deplorable and shameful that it has taken 43 years to get to this moment. It is only because of your courage, bravery, determination and ceaseless campaigning that a political system that has, along with successive governments, failed you has finally been forced to give you some measure of the vindication and acknowledgement you have so long deserved. It is also because of the public support you have got from a great many people. When the political system and successive Governments failed you, many ordinary people stood with you and supported your ceaseless campaign for justice.

I know from talking to some of the families that there is great sadness today that some of those who fought over all of these years are not here to see this moment of acknowledgement and truth and the apology we have seen from the Government. I do not know all of them but, over the years, I have certainly encountered some of the families and their campaign. I think of people like Eugene Kelly and Christine Keegan. Today, I received an email from Mark Frazer, the brother of Thelma Frazer, referring to their father Arthur. I thought I should read some of it. I know that the pen portraits at the inquest were a very important opportunity for the families to remind people of the terrible individual human and family loss you all suffered, of the futures snatched away and of the impact this tragedy, loss and great injustice has had over generations of your families. Mark sent me an email and asked that I just reference it. However, I know that the sentiments expressed within are probably felt by all of the families. I will just read something of what he said.

My sister Thelma Frazer ... the third eldest of nine children, went to the stardust with her boyfriend, Michael Farrell ... and were unlawfully killed, they never came home. Thelma was small in stature with a big heart who loved and cared for the younger siblings when mam took part time evening work. Thelma volunteered with the Order of Malta as a cadet leader.

It was three agonising days before Thelma was identified through dental records and jewellery. This was devastating for our close family, especially our parents. They were left heartbroken. Our neighbours and friends in Bath Avenue, Sandymount, were really kind and of great support.

Both my parents died in their mid-fifties, within 10 years of the fire, from the stress and strain of dealing with the aftermath of the fire.

My father Arthur made it his sole focus in life to get to the truth of the fire and what happened on that night. He was devastated when the Keane tribunal said it was probable arson despite The Gardai saying there was “no evidence of arson”. This tarnished all victims of the fire.

We have waited 43 years despite every agency of the state placing hurdles in front of us to prevent us from obtaining the truth.

During the [recent] inquest we heard evidence which was difficult to listen to at times from survivors and emergency services.

I do not have time to read all of the email, but I will read the last paragraph.

My sister Thelma deserved a long life with Michael. My Parents deserved to grow old to see grandchildren. My brothers and sister deserved comfort and reassurance from our family but were denied because of [the] greed of a rich and powerful family.

I am sure that account speaks not just for the Frazer family, but for a great many of the families. I hope that today will be the beginning of the truth. It is certainly not the end. An apology is not enough.

There has to be true justice and true accountability for those who frustrated the families fight for truth and justice for their loved ones. The State has to explain and own up to its responsibility in all of this. Now that we know the truth, and the families always knew the truth, how could there have been reports that blamed the victims? It put that stigma on them and tarnished their reputations. It sent the message that we did not believe them and did not care, and blamed those who were the victims of this terrible injustice.

I played a small part in this. How could it be, when Antoinette and the campaigners compiled new evidence in 2016-17 - I remember walking across this Chamber to hand the evidence they provided to the then Minister for Justice for the commission of investigation they were seeking - they were ignored and that request was dismissed? It took further campaigning by the families. I remember standing on the streets handing out postcards, and getting the public to sign them in their thousands, asking for the inquest that was finally granted.

How is it that the only person who was ever prosecuted following the unlawful killing of 48 young people in the Stardust fire was the singer, Christy Moore, who wrote a song about the truth? How is that the owner of the Stardust received £500,000 in compensation, when families who suffered 43 years of struggling, the tarnishing of their reputations, the implication that they were lying and all the terrible impacts they felt, including the loss they had suffered, had to fight for this moment?

I commend the families. This is their day. We are here only because of what they have done in their ceaseless fight for justice because of the love they had for their family members who lost their lives and, as we now know, were killed due, as Mark Frazer said, to the greed of a rich and powerful family and the failure of the State to provide its resources to get to the truth. The State ignored and dismissed their struggle for justice for 43 years, but this is their day.

I hope this is the beginning. All I will say to the Government is that the families must lead this. What follows from here must be led by the families. Only they know what truth and justice mean. The Government should provide that for their loved ones and for those who survived this terrible tragedy and injustice.

See this speech in context