The former manager of the Stardust Eamon Butterly has told an inquest that he stands over his company’s malicious damage claim on the fire that killed 48 people at the venue.
He also rejected an assertion by a legal representative for some of the families of the victims that the electrical work on the premises was of poor quality, telling the Dublin District Coroner’s Court that he believed it was “excellent work”.
My Butterly was being cross-examined by Seán Guerin SC on Thursday during the inquest into the blaze which swept through the Stardust in the early hours of February 14th, 1981.
Mr Guerin put it to Mr Butterly that the recommended trunking capacity had been exceeded on electrical wiring in certain areas of the Stardust. “I don’t know anything about it,” Mr Butterly said.
Mr Guerin said an exceeded trunking capacity meant overloading the electrical system, to which Mr Butterly replied that he did not know.
Mr Guerin referenced the evidence of witnesses Suzanne McCluskey and Fiona Doherty, who attended a concert in the Stardust around a month before the fire.
Mr Guerin said both women reported seeing sparks flashing from the ceiling. He added that Ms Doherty saw purple sparks “like fire”, and she said they reminded her of “the sparks from bumper cars” and was worried they might cause a fire.
Mr Guerin asked Mr Butterly what his reaction to this was. “Nobody told me,” Mr Butterly replied, adding: “I wouldn’t expect to see sparks.”
Tribute band
Mr Guerin next referenced the statement of Patrick O’Driscoll, who gave evidence that he was part of an Elvis Presley tribute band which had played the Stardust the week before the fire.
He said he saw “a shower of sparks” coming from the ceiling at the backstage area.
“I don’t necessarily believe what he said,” Mr Butterly said. “If he saw sparks, he should have told somebody.”
Mr Guerin next referenced the statement of Declan Burnett, who gave evidence that one night a few weeks before Christmas, he was working in the bar and saw “a light smoke or mist” all over the area that was curtained off on the night of the fire.
Mr Burnett also gave evidence that on a few occasions he got an unusual smell in the bar that he could not define but thought it came from the air vents. Mr Butterly replied that he was not aware of this.
“The company had an important financial interest in proving that the damage was caused maliciously, and you’re anxious to stand over that finding,” Mr Guerin said.
“The finding of the malicious damage claim? That it was given? Yes,” Mr Butterly replied.
“That it was right, that’s your position, and it always has been,” Mr Guerin said. “Yes, that’s what our solicitors told us to do,” Mr Butterly replied.
“That’s why you asserted it was the best wired premises in Dublin,” Mr Guerin said.
“Yes, I’m no expert,” Mr Butterly replied.
“You’re willing to say things you don’t know to be true because you’re persisting in standing over the company’s financial interest in a malicious cause for the fire,” Mr Guerin put to the witness.
“I am standing over the company’s malicious damage claim to a fire,” Mr Butterly responded.
Mr Guerin further referenced the statement of Colm O’Brien, a DJ on the night of the fire who gave evidence that the power to the stage was cut off, and the statement of Stephen Byrne, an electrician who noticed that there appeared to be a short in a neon strip on the premises.
Mr Guerin said their statements was further evidence of poor-quality electrical work in the Stardust.
“No, it was excellent work, but I’m no expert to say that,” Mr Butterly said.
Mr Butterly’s evidence continues on Thursday afternoon in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
