Eamon Butterly's challenge to new Stardust inquest fails

(Left to right) Martina Hand, Antoinette Keegan and Pauline Braymer holding photos of Stardust victims Martina and Mary Keegan at the Coroners Court inquest into the Stardust tragedy in the RDS, Dublin, in February. The coroner, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General, opposed the application while the families of the deceased, the Garda Commissioner and Dublin City Council were notice parties. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

Former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly has failed in a High Court challenge over a new inquest into the 48 deaths in the 1981 Valentine's night nightclub disaster.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan rejected Mr Butterly's claim that the inquest could not make findings of unlawful killing. However, the judge said, this can only be in "appropriate circumstances" and only where no person(s) is identified or identifiable.