On April 18, there was the verdict of unlawful killing in the case of all 48 young people who died in the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane on February 14, 1981. Days later, Taoiseach Simon Harris delivered a State apology.
Then came State Commemorations in the Garden of Remembrance on June 23. And on October 16, following 43 years largely spent out in the cold, survivors and families honoured the memories of the victims as guests of President Michael D Higgins at a reception in Áras an Uachtaráin.
Michael D Higgins hails ‘tenacity’ of Stardust families at Áras reception
President Higgins read the names of all 48 people, aged between 16 and 26, who died that night.
“While I know that the people of Ireland stand in solidarity with you in your loss, it is you yourselves and your families who have had to bear the grief of those tragic events, and, added to it, have had to bear the long wait for information on those tragic events that was and is your right,” he said.
“Indeed, it was not just the long wait for information that was unacceptable, but also the additional hurt that was caused in the past by the regular reference to what were unfounded theories as to the cause of the fire.”
His speech was followed by a few words from Antoinette Keegan, a Stardust survivor who lost her sisters Mary (19) and Martina (16) in the fire.
Applause filled the room when Ms Keegan paid tribute to Darragh Mackin, the solicitor who represented 47 of the families.
“Darragh Mackin remains today, for all of us families of the deceased victims, an angel on earth sent to us.”
Speaking to reporters, Ms Keegan said the families were “overwhelmed” to be invited to the Áras.
“The President has given us this invitation to Áras an Uachtaráin, he’s the President of Ireland. What he’s doing today is a momentous day for all of us, for the 48, remembering them and it’s overwhelming for all the families.
“It means since the verdict was recorded of unlawful killing that our voices haven’t been silenced anymore. The whole world now knows that unlawful killing did apply to our 48 loved ones, that we have a voice and our voice is their voice.”
Ms Keegan said “the doors were closed” on the survivors and families, the tragedy “can never be forgotten” and should be put in the history books.
Family members of three of the victims, Michael Barrett (17), Eugene Hogan (24) and Murtagh Kavanagh (27) opted not to attend the reception as they felt justice was still yet to be done. Asked about their decision, Ms Keegan acknowledged there is still a “ways to go”.
“Today is the day that the President has given his time to us. That’s a big thing for the families and it’s an acknowledgement from the families to thank him for giving his time to us today.
“There’s a lot of things still outstanding. We need it to go in the school books, to go in the history books. The Government promised us we’d have a commemoration day, I’ve already organised the anniversary for next year, it’s on the 13th of February.”
She said there is a hope that Government will make a contribution to that anniversary. She also paid tribute to her parents John and Christine, who were among the many Stardust family members who died during the campaign for justice.
“It’s an emotional day and it’s more emotional that my mother and father aren’t here, because they started the campaign and they were relentless in their fight for justice, for truth for the 48 victims.”
Selina McDermott, the sister of victims Marcella (16), George (18) and William (22), said being invited to the Áras was “still a bit surreal”. She was there alongside her mother Bridget who is now aged 87.
“We’d been rejected so many times for so many years. Doors closed in our faces. To be invited here today is a massive thing for us. To be asked here, to represent the 48 here. It’s for them, God love them,” she said.
“It was always about them, always about vindicating their name. Especially for my mam, putting on State record how they died, that was a big thing for her and all of them.
“In our family what we heard through the years was ‘I need a proper coroner’s report into how they died’. And she said ‘Selina, I won’t rest or I won’t go to my grave to see them until I get it’.
“They did it, it was long, long overdue, but she did it. The other mothers did it. The other families did it, and we had the support from the public. Only for the public we wouldn’t have had it. Today was a massive day for us.”
