'I didn’t think it was serious at all' — Stardust DJ recalls reaction to first sign of fatal fire

The court has already heard distressing testimony from many of the workers there on the night. With many of the patrons there on the night yet to give evidence, further harrowing, but essential, testimony is yet to come.

Family and friends of the victims of the Stardust fire at the Garden of remembrance last month. File photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

“We went back to the Stardust. We didn’t believe anybody was dead. We’d seen people walk into a load of ambulances, they were walking in themselves. Colm came to me and said the garda told him there was a body behind the door. We both said at the same time ‘Jesus’.

“When we got back to Colm O’Brien’s house, after we came back the second time looking for Michael Barrett, we heard the news on the radio. And that described how many people had died.”