The Irish Government is set to hold an official remembrance ceremony on June 23 in honor of the 48 victims of the Stardust nightclub disaster.
Arrangements for the remembrance ceremony are still being finalized in consultation with the families of the victims, but Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed that a date for the commemoration has now been confirmed.
In a statement on Friday, May 31, the Taoiseach said: “At the meeting I held with the families of the Stardust victims in government buildings on Saturday 20th April, we committed to holding a special Remembrance Ceremony.
"I’m really happy that has now been confirmed.
“This will be a moment to remember those who lost their lives but I also hope it will be a moment for those injured, those who fought to save lives, and those who fought for decades to have the 48 victims and their good names fully vindicated.
“I will lead the government attendees at the official event and I hope that this, along with the official state apology delivered in the Dáil , will show 2024 to be the year where Ireland put right our duty to all involved in Stardust.”
The group Justice for Stardust 48, a campaign for the victims of the tragedy, said on Friday that they welcomed the confirmation of the commemoration.
For 42 years, the families have had to organise and fund remembrance ceremonies . We thank the the government for this. https://t.co/0fZITYo0xs
— Justice for Stardust 48 (@48NeverCameHome) May 31, 2024
On April 18, the jury in the inquest into the tragedy ruled that the 48 people who died in the fire were unlawfully killed.
The jury found that the thickness of the smoke, combined with the failure of the emergency lighting system and the lack of preparedness of the staff, made it more difficult for people to leave the nightclub.
Emergency exits were also locked, chained, or otherwise impeded.
The inquest was the longest-running in the history of the Irish State, lasting 122 days and hearing testimony from 373 witnesses.
In the wake of the ruling on April 18, victims' families reiterated their call for a formal State apology.
On April 23, Harris issued a State apology to the victims of the Stardust disaster. In the Dáil, in the presence of victims' relatives, he said in part: "For all of this, as Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, I apologise unreservedly to all the families of the Stardust victims and all the survivors for the hurt that was done to them and for the profoundly painful years of struggle for the truth."
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