Terms for Stardust inquiry agreed

THE legal framework for an independent examination into the 1981 Stardust fire tragedy that killed 48 people has been finalised 12 months after it was first announced.

Agreement on the terms of reference by the Government, senior counsel John Gallagher and the Stardust Victims’ Committee marks a definitive moment in the bereaved families’ 26-year campaign for answers.

The legal team representing the bereaved families is expected to meet with Mr Gallagher, who was appointed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to chair the examination.

Following their meeting, experts such as consultant forensic pathologist Dr Derek Carson and fire expert Robert Knox will also be called to discuss their theories about the cause of the fire.

According to a letter from the Government’s assistant secretary, which has been seen by the Irish Examiner, Mr Gallagher will be required to report to the Government as soon as possible and recommend whether a new inquiry into the 1981 tragedy is required.

As part of the private examination, he must facilitate a detailed presentation by the Stardust Victims’ Committee of the “case for a renewed inquiry as they see it”.

While the chairman may consider and examine the issues raised by the committee in their lengthy submission “Nothing But The Truth”, he shall “not initiate any further investigations into the cause of the fire”, according to the letter.

Over the past 26 years, the families have consistently disputed the original tribunal’s conclusion that the fire was a case of “probable arson”.

Analysis from international experts has argued that the contents of a storeroom and highly flammable insulation material led to the rapid spread of the fire in the Artane ballroom on the northside of Dublin.

Last night, committee spokeswoman Antoinette Keegan welcomed publication of the final terms of reference. However, she said families were concerned about the delay in beginning an examination that was announced 12 months ago.

Since the decision to appoint a legal person to oversee an examination last December, the Stardust Victims’ Committee has sought to obtain a definitive start date.

In the intervening period, the Government agreed to make an initial sum of €100,000 available to the committee out of a total allocation of €400,000 so that its own work for the examination might begin.