43 years on from Valentine’s horror, Taoiseach will deliver a state apology

Harris says he will ‘hear’ campaigners in private meeting

Taoiseach Simon Harris will meet the Stardust families today before offering a formal state apology in the Dáil on Tuesday.

Survivors of the nightclub fire, along with relatives of the 48 young people who were killed, will be present in the Dáil as the Taoiseach makes the formal apology.

A spokesperson for Mr Harris said: “The Taoiseach has invited the families and loved ones of the Stardust victims to meet.

“He is eager to listen closely to the families. The Taoiseach has said he is conscious that these families have felt unheard for four decades, and his priority now is to hear directly from them.

“He has also spoken to the Coalition party leaders and members of the opposition.

“The Taoiseach will seek to address the Dáil on Tuesday [in relation to Stardust]. His priority, however, remains engagement with the families first.”

Earlier yesterday, before today’s meeting with the families had been finalised, Mr Harris said he hoped to meet them.

The Taoiseach stated that he was “eager to be in a position to apologise to these families”.

Speaking to members of the press in Co Carlow, the Taoiseach said: “I have reached out to the families and I have offered to meet them.

“I am very keen to meet with the families and very conscious that these families have felt unheard for decades. I want to make sure that they know I’m listening, that I want to hear them.

“I want to be in a position as Taoiseach to apologise on behalf of this country, but I think the most appropriate thing to do is to meet with them.”

The Fine Gael leader said he spoke to Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan on Thursday, the day when fresh inquests concluded with a verdict of unlawful killings.

“I have reached out to offer to meet the families, if that works for them, or if not at another time of their choosing,” he said.

“I am eager to be in a position to apologise to these families but I think it’s right and proper that I meet them first.”

The Government had been urged to “do the right thing” and issue an official state apology over the Stardust fire tragedy.

A previous finding in 1982 concluded that the nightclub fire had been started deliberately.

However, on Thursday, a majority decision from the jury of seven women and five men found the fire – which broke out in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, 1981 – started due to an electrical fault in the hot press of the bar.

The verdict of unlawful killing finally brings an end to a tireless campaign for justice.

Families of the victims embraced each other after the verdict at the Pillar Room in Dublin city.

Susan Behan, whose brother John Colgan was among those killed at the Stardust, spoke about the importance of the Government issuing an official state apology.

“I feel it’s important for us because I think we were ignored,” she told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland radio programme. “I really do feel we were ignored. I feel they were so disrespectful to us.

“We were left to our own devices – that shouldn’t have been the case. So now, it shouldn’t be a big deal for them to turn around and say, ‘we’re sorry, we got it wrong’, and apologise to us.

“It’s the very least they could do and it shouldn’t take them a long time to know what to do.”

She said it “meant so much to finally hear our loved ones were unlawfully killed”.

“So many emotions. It’s been such a long time coming,” Ms Behan said.

“When we heard it, it was just unreal. All those emotions – 43 years – then we finally, finally hear those words. It was just unbelievable. It really was.

“It’s very hard to put it into words to be honest, because this morning I actually can’t believe it. I’m so relieved that finally we have the justice we deserved.”

Meanwhile, the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin said it was honoured to have hosted the inquest into the Stardust fire over the past year.

In a statement released yesterday, the hospital said it “sincerely hopes that the verdicts delivered at the Dublin Coroner’s Court will finally bring some closure to all impacted by the tragic event on February 14, 1981”.

The statement added: “The Rotunda has a long and proud association with the community and families impacted by the tragedy. A great many of those who lost their lives were born in the hospital.”

Welcoming the findings, Master of the Rotunda, Professor Seán Daly, said: “Given our long association with the community involved, the Rotunda were honoured and delighted to act as host for the inquest proceedings and join with the families, friends and numerous others who have welcomed the final outcome.

“I know I speak for all at the Rotunda and particularly those who came into contact with families and friends attending the inquest by welcoming the conclusion of the inquest.

“I sincerely hope the findings finally bring some element of closure to the families impacted.”