Bittersweet was how many families described the state apology given to relatives of the 48 people who died in the 1981 Stardust fire.
About 70 family members and survivors sat in the public gallery above the Dáil chamber and peered intently through the plexiglass as Taoiseach Simon Harris apologised on behalf of the State.
In the distinguished visitors’ gallery of the chamber, Antoinette Keegan and other leading campaigners sat silently to hear what politicians had to say about their four-decade fight for justice.
As the Taoiseach apologised “unreservedly” for the hurt and “profoundly painful years of struggle for the truth” that families and survivors of the Stardust fire have faced, some kept their hands clasped and some looked up and sighed.
Some held one of the 48 roses brought to the Dáil by the Stardust “baby” Lisa Lawlor, who was just 17 months old when both her parents, Francis and Maureen Lawlor, died in the tragedy.
“The news is brilliant, we had a great victory here today that people of the Stardust and the victims are not being blamed for their deaths any more,” she said afterwards.
“We have made Irish history today.”
Many TDs remained motionless as Mr Harris said the “pain and grief” of families was “compounded by stigma and rejection”.
After the apology, and while Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan spoke, Mr Harris left the Dáil chamber and entered the public gallery above it.
He was seen shaking hands with the families and survivors, and spoke to some of them for brief periods.
Relatives described the apology as “good”, “sincere” and “thorough”, and said that the new Taoiseach seemed genuine – but said they were waiting to see more from the State.
Gertrude Barrett, mother of 17-year-old Michael Barrett, and Damien Keegan, brother of Mary and Martina Keegan, both said the day was “bittersweet”, with Mrs Barrett adding: “But we got it in the end.”
Others said it was emotional that the parents of the young people who died, who were all aged between 16 and 27, did not live to see justice for their loved ones.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who received enthusiastic applause from the families, said that the parents of some victims “died without the comfort of vindication” but families kept campaigning regardless.
“This travesty happened on the watch of successive governments, successive taoisigh, and successive ministers for justice,” she told the Dáil.
“The hope of government was that the families would eventually stop, eventually shut up, eventually give up and eventually go away.
“Those governments forgot one very important thing, you don’t mess with Dublin mas, you don’t mess with Dublin das, you don’t mess with Irish mammies and daddies and families, not when they’re fighting for justice for their children.
“Because you will lose and they will win, even if it takes them 43 years.”
Several tributes were given in the Dáil to the parents of Mary and Martina Keegan during the Dail apology and subsequent statements.
John Keegan founded the Stardust Victims’ Committee in 1985 and died the following year, and Christine Keegan, a tireless campaigner who died in 2020.
Damien Keegan said his fifth birthday was in the April after the Stardust tragedy in February 1981.
“All I knew growing up throughout my whole life was looking at my mother fighting for justice,” he said.
The Keegan family said it was appreciated that their mother’s and father’s name was mentioned during Dail statements, and said the apology was good.
“Follow it up and show us what you mean, you’re sorry. Show us your commitment, what you’re saying in there you’re going to do for us. Show us,” Mr Keegan said.
Antoinette Keegan, one of the leading campaigners for the Stardust families, said that families felt “overwhelmed” at the verdict and the public apology, things they “never expected to get”.
Asked whether she would like to see criminal proceedings, Ms Keegan said: “To be honest, I would. Because, 48 dead, somebody should be held accountable. That’s my view.
“Somebody should be held responsible for 48 deaths.”
John Muldoon, brother of 19-year-old Kathleen Muldoon, said that the families needed time and space before deciding what was next to “give people a chance to draw breath”.
Louise McDermott, whose brothers William and George and sister Marcella all died in the Stardust fire, said the apology was “sincere” and that her mother Bridget McDermott was “so happy” that someone stood up and apologised.
“We will wait to see if they do a commemorative day for them, which I think they should and there will be something put up to always remember them,” she said.
