Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has raised the issue of a call by families of victims of the Stardust tragedy for a new Commission of Investigation into the fire.
The interior of the destroyed Stardust Nightclub.
Derry teenager Susan Morgan, from Carnhill, was among the 48 people who died when a blaze destroyed the Artane nightclub on 14 February 1981.
Several of Susan’s friends survived.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Adams asked the Taoiseach or Minister for Justice to address discrepancies between the report by Senior Counsel Paul Coffey, tasked with reviewing the Stardust affair, which was submitted to the Government, and the version of the Coffey report that was eventually published.
In his response, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he would not commit to a new Commission of Investigation but if the solicitor for the families forwarded to him any new evidence, he would look at it.
Mr Adams said: “The original inquiry into the Stardust fire claimed that it was caused by ‘probable arson.’ That finding has long been disputed by the families of the victims, by the people of this city and by others who have looked closely at the evidence.
“The families of a number of those who died in the Stardust have tasked various experts to review transcripts of the original inquiry into the case and they have come to a different conclusion.
“Taoiseach, the families of victims of the Stardust fire are seeking a new Commission of Investigation into this dreadful tragedy. The main basis for this is the report by Senior Counsel Paul Coffey, who was tasked by the previous government with reviewing the Stardust affair, and the Foy report commissioned by the families.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has so far rejected calls for an inquiry into the Stardust tragedy.
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