State Ceremony To Be Held In Honour Of Stardust Victims Next Month

A State remembrance ceremony is to take place next month, in honour of the 48 victims of the Stardust tragedy.

This tragedy happened in February 1981, when a fire ripped through the Artane nightclub, causing the death of 48 people.

To mark this, an event will take place on 23 June, with the exact arrangements being finalised in consultation with the victims' families. The location is yet to be officially confirmed, but the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin is the likeliest venue.

Releasing a statement, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that he had committed to holding a ceremony when he met the families last month.

"This will be a moment to remember those who lost their lives, but I also hope it will be a moment for those injured, those who fought to save lives and those who fought for decades to have the 48 victims and their good names fully vindicated", Mr Harris said.  

This announcement has been welcomed by the campaigners.

One of the tragedy's survivors Antoinette Keegan, whose two sisters Mary and Martina sadly died in the fire, called this announcement very significant. 

Ms Keegan added that this is the first time the State will host such a ceremony, saying that the commemorations of the past have all been organised by the families themselves.  She also added that the State understands the true scale of this tragedy. 

Last April, it was ruled by an inquest jury that the 48 people were unlawfully killed in this tragedy, after the jury ruled that the fire was started in the hot press in the main bar.