SINN Fein’s Elisha McCallion is urging the Irish Government to grant a new inquest into the horrific Stardust ballroom tragedy when 48 young people died in a fire that broke out during a Valentines night disco in 1981.
The Foyle MP, with party colleagues Karen Mullan MLA and Raymond McCartney MLA and Sinn Féin TDs and Senators joined with the families in Dublin today as they submitted a petition calling on the Attorney General to open a new inquest.
Elisha McCallion said: “The families of those who were killed and injured have fought every day since the 14th of February 1981 to get truth and justice for their loved ones.
“Young people died in the most horrific of circumstances yet their families have had to endure decades of stone-walls and cover-ups.
“I recently met the families in Derry during a visit to the Bloody Sunday Trust.
“It’s important that we are here with them again today to show our ongoing support and solidarity and to back their call for truth and justice, once and for all.
“Lawyers for the families believe there is enough evidence to warrant a new inquest to legally examine the evidence not considered at the original inquest where key experts were not interviewed including fire experts, forensic pathologists, building experts and other central witnesses.
“It is believed that many planning, and fire regulations were broken, and it is well known that the emergency exits were chained.
“These families deserve answers and we hope the Attorney General now hears their plea for truth and justice for the 48 young souls who never came home,” added the former Mayor of Derry.
