This is a short story/documentary we produced depicting the affect the Stardust tragedy had on one Family in our community (the keegan's from Coolock). There are countless more stories like theirs in the communities where young people were cut down in their prime by the fire or were hurt and maimed. The fire and injustice of the circumstances surrounding it are best explained here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust...
Please, if you get the time watch this short film and either post it to your status or mail it on to your friends to help the cause for justice and if you have time leave a message here to show support.
www.stardustsupport.com/
The building in which the Stardust was held had no planning permission to operate as a night club. It contravened every building regulation and safety standard law at the time and yet it was never visited by the fire safety department while it operated.
There was one man sent to check the fire extinguishers who repeatedly told the Butterly owners to refrain from chaining and locking the doors closed. The venue had been visited 6 times in the 3 months leading up to the tragedy for various breaches of law such as overcrowding, locking the doors and faulty wiring and yet the building was never shut down. It was a tragedy waiting to happen and happen it did.
Patrick Butterly the owner was personally invited by Jack Lynch to join An Tac (the Fianna Fail fund raising party). He had breakfast with a prominent Fianna Fail TD every morning leading up to the tragedy. Haughey and Boland accountants had done the books for the Butterly's and it was Charles Haughey (our president equivalent) who ordered a tribunal from which no arrests could be made and/or prosecutions.
Haughey's solicitor at the time was married into the Butterly family, one of his political advisers had been on the board of directors of a Butterly company. So in my opinion he was nowhere fit (as if for jury selection), he was connected in too many ways to be impartial. Calling a tribunal was at the very least suspect because of this. He also appointed Justice Eamon Keane to reside over the tribunal. A man whose wife Haughey was having an affair with. After the tribunal Keane was appointed as a supreme high court judge.
Ray Burke now proven to be as corrupt as they come called the tribunal in 1981.
The much maligned Tribunal eventually concluded (without evidence) a decision of probable arson a decision which saw the Butterly's reap a handsome insurance pay out within a year of the tragedy (it would be 5 years almost until anyone involved in the tragedy got a penny in another government insurance tribunal)
The file sent to the DPP by the Gardai did not include forensic evidence. It did however contain evidence that proved Eamon Buttlerly locked and chained the fire exits. He also blocked the fire exits with huge bottle bins contributing (as the tribunal said) to the deaths and yet he was never arrested?
The tribunal decision from back in the 80's of probable arson was reversed in 2008 but as of yet the Gardai have yet to respond to requests from the stardust committee to reopen the case to find the cause and to arrest those responsible.
The government has not apologized from previous Governments indiscretions in the matter and they have so far refused to meet with the victims representatives to discuss this and other pressing matters.
It's all wrong. This is our 'Nelson Mandela' folks the truth has a shallow grave and guilty men behave as they do. Hiding behind the truth burying it under a political carpet.
Justice will break. Be a part of it and show your support and empathy.
Thank you.