Finian McGrath ‘not for turning’ on Stardust

The Cabinet became embroiled in a “hot and heavy” row yesterday over whether to grant a fresh State inquiry into the 1981 Stardust tragedy at its weekly meeting yesterday.

In a clear sign of the inter- Coalition tensions, ministers broke up without agreement on how to respond to three separate opposition Dáil motions, including the one on the Stardust fire, which claimed the lives of 48 young people.

Super junior minister Finian McGrath of the Independent Alliance, who sits at Cabinet, is said to have “passionately” argued the need for a fresh inquiry but was robustly met by demands from Fine Gael for fresh evidence.