Stardust Dublin 1981 Part 5

The stardust fire is one of the worst fires Dublin and Ireland... The stardust fire is one of the worst fires Dublin and Ireland has ever seen in modern times. The fire took the lives of 48 young people many of whom were from the local area and some who were from the same family. The stardust was a disco located on Kilmore Road on the northside of Dublin about 15 minutes drive from the city centre. On Friday night the 13th of February young people as usual began arriving at the club for a good night out. Also taking place in the club was a trade union function with a band in the Lantern Room. The fire began in a closed off balcony area with two seats alight at the time of discovery. An attempt to extinguish the fire failed and the people at the function in the Lantern room were advised to leave which they did. Security staff pushed up the screen dividing the area but this caused the fire to rush out and set light to the celling tiles and walls in the disco area which immediately began to produce large volumes of thick black smoke. The dancers panicked and a stampede ensued to escape. People were trampled in the rush, others collapsed unable to breathe in the noxious atmosphere. Some exits were locked and those trying to escape could not do so. Many went to escape via windows but were met with iron bar grilles which prevented their exit. Rescue personnel watched in horror from the outside as victims were crushed against the grilles desperate to flee the smoke and flames. A group trapped in the men toilets by bars on the windows feared the worst with one of the group telling younger people "we will go to heaven anyway" when the door was broken down by firemen wearing breathing apparatus who shouted "come on get out!" On the way out they saw the whole place ablaze. The initial response by the fire brigade was five engines and two ambulances. They immediately requested that Dublin's Major Disaster Plan be activated. Hospitals, police, fire, ambulance and many other services came together to assist in the rescue and treatment of those still living. The Mater, Jervis Street, The Richmond, Doctor Steevens and then Saint Vincent Hospital on the southside all began to receive casualties. The Fire Brigades 11 ambulances along with the Eastern Health board began ferrying the injured from the scene. The city morgue in Store street quickly became overloaded and Army personnel had to erect tents in the yard to cater for the high number of fatalities. In all 48 people died with many more suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. Today the Stardust is gone but a memorial park serves to remind people of what took place that Friday night. Many recommendations came in the wake of the tragedy some of which have not yet been implemented. Polls Should Eamonn Butterly be done for manslaughter ? Yes No Dont Know Copyright stardustsupport.com