Stardust survivors describe 'long overdue' moment when families received unlawful killing verdict
Jim Fitzpatrick and Carol Barrett spoke with Miriam O'Callaghan about how it felt after the verdict was read
After the unlawful killing verdict was read at the Stardust Inquiry this Thursday, two survivors of the tragedy spoke with Miriam O'Callaghan on Prime Time discussing how it felt after the verdict was read.
"I just feel elated, it was like a weight was lifted off the families," said Jim Fitzpatrick.
While sitting with the families at the inquest, Jim told Miriam that they are inspirational to him: "They're my inspiration.
"I looked at the mothers and fathers today and to have that ruling was just so amazing, because I'll be honest, I had mixed emotions. I don't know if I'm crying or laughing in moments.
The inquests into the deaths of 48 people after a fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, north Dublin, began in April last year and heard evidence from 373 people.
"I'm laughing with glee and crying with sadness because 48 people shouldn't have died," said Mr Fitzpatrick, who sustained his own injuries in the blaze.
"It was Murphy's law, anything that could go wrong went wrong to have these families there to realise they were wrongfully killed, is amazing."
A majority decision from the jury of seven women and five men found that the devastating blaze, which broke out in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 1981, started due to an electrical fault in the hot press of the bar.
For Carole Barrett, another survivor of the tragedy, whose brother Michael Barrett died in the fire, she said that the day of the verdict was "long overdue."
"It is bittersweet. It is a form of justice by all means and it was the right verdict. They are not arsonists, they didn't cause their own deaths or the deaths of others, so they have been vindicated today."
The jury reached a majority verdict of unlawful killing in the case of the 48 people who died in a fire that ripped through the Stardust nightclub in north Dublin.
It is said that justice minister Helen McEntee has said Cabinet will discuss the possibility of a State apology for the Stardust relatives following legal advice and consultation with the affected families.