Taoiseach to meet families of Stardust victims

The Taoiseach Simon Harris is to meet the families of the victims of the Stardust fire.

The meeting comes ahead of an expected formal state apology next week.

On Thursday, a jury found that all 48 victims were unlawfully killed on 14 February 1981, and that the fire started in a hot press as a result of an electrical fault.

Following their 43-year battle for justice for their loved ones, members of the Stardust families

said they now deserve a formal apology for the way in which the State handled the 1981 nightclub disaster in Artane in Dublin.

The Taoiseach invited the families to a meeting at Government Buildings this morning, an invitation which has been accepted.

Mr Harris, who said he wants to be in a position to issue an apology to them on behalf of the country, said he is first keen to hear directly from the families.

It is expected the Taoiseach will confirm after the meeting that he will deliver a formal state apology in the Dáil on Tuesday during time set aside for statements on the inquest verdicts.

The families will also be meeting the Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald this morning, whose party has said it will table a motion in the Dáil next week to call for a full State apology to the Stardust families and survivors.