Commissioner asks officers to revisit Stardust files

The Garda Commissioner has said he has asked officers to revisit files regarding the Stardust disaster in which 48 people died.

At a Policing Authority meeting in Co Limerick today, Drew Harris was asked about the potential for a new criminal investigation in light of last week’s inquests’ verdict of unlawful killing.

Last week the jury in the inquests into the deaths of 48 people in the February 1981 fire at the nightclub in Artane returned verdicts of unlawful killing for all of the victims.

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Simon Harris issued a State apology in the Dáil to the families of the victims.

This afternoon, the Garda Commissioner said he expects to receive a report shortly from the Dublin City coroner.

He added that there was a memorandum of understanding in place, where, in the wake of the verdict, the coroner will bring issues to his attention if she thinks they are relevant to gardaí.

Read more on Stardust verdict:
Stardust verdict – the view from inside the courtroom
Stardust: The verdict families wanted and others didn’t – what next?
Overdue State apology an important moment for Stardust families

Mr Harris said he has asked the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation to “revisit” two investigation files that were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, one from the early 80s and another from 2016.

He said he expects to receive a report from the coroner Dr Myra Cullinane in the next two or three weeks.

Mr Harris added: “We’re at the beginning of the road in examining what’s being done.”