Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris has issued a state apology to the families of the victims of the Stardust fire tragedy. The apology comes more than 40 years after the blaze that ripped through the nightclub in north Dublin, killing 48 young people.
Speaking on the way into Government Buildings, Mr. Harris said, “These are families that have been failed for over four decades.” He added that he hopes the apology “can help aid the healing process.”
The relatives of the victims have long called for an official state apology. An inquest jury last week returned a verdict that all victims were unlawfully killed. This follows a previous finding in 1982 that the fire had been started deliberately.
The Stardust fire tragedy is one of the darkest chapters in Irish history. The apology from the government is a welcome step towards acknowledging the suffering of the victims’ families and providing them with some closure.
In addition to the state apology, the government has also announced a number of measures to support the families of the victims, including a financial compensation package and access to counseling services. The government has also committed to working with the families to ensure that the Stardust fire tragedy is never forgotten.
