Most Stardust victims 'had probably already died' before fire engines arrived, says coroner

Families have long campaigned for these fresh inquests, that finally began almost a year ago, to examine the circumstances of their loved ones' deaths. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

The majority of people who perished in the Stardust tragedy “had probably already died” at the scene by the time the first fire engine arrived, despite it doing so less than 10 minutes after the initial 999 call, a jury has heard.

This was due to the speed at which the fire spread, coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said, as she finished summarising the evidence given at these inquests by telling the jury what the fire experts had told them across eight days of testimony.