Irish Examiner view: Relatives rightly demand inquests into Whiddy disaster

The Betelgeuse explosion claimed more lives than the Stardust tragedy and happened years earlier. Where is the focus on the Whiddy incident?

Relatives both French and Irish at the Betelgeuse disaster 40th anniversary mass at St Finbarr’s Church, Bantry, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

After over four decades of campaigning, the relatives and survivors of the Stardust tragedy were vindicated last week when the Dublin City Coroner’s Court inquests reached a verdict of "unlawful killing" in the case of the 48 deaths.

Yesterday in the Dáil, Taoiseach Simon Harris offered a formal State apology to the families, a welcome acknowledgement of the ordeal endured by those involved over the years.