Families of Stardust victims 'in the dark'
Families of the Stardust tragedy victims insisted today they are being kept in the dark by the Government about delays to an independent inquiry.
They have written a letter to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern demanding a start date be announced for the fresh investigation into the 1981 nightclub blaze.
Antoinette Keegan, who lost two sisters in the St Valentine's Night inferno, said she has been given assurances by the Taoiseach's office that everything is ready to proceed.
The Stardust Survivors Committee spokeswoman insisted that testimony from witnesses and experts was supposed to start last month.
In a letter to the Taoiseach, she said the families are hurt, disappointed and let down that promises have not been fulfilled.
"We are very confused, in the sense that everything is ready to move, and would like to know why there is a delay on a start date," the letter states.
But the Government is adamant that inquiry chairman John Gallagher SC, appointed to head the investigation in April, is still involved in preparations.
Ms Keegan said the families have had no contact from the Government about the apparent delay.
In the letter to the Taoiseach, she writes: "The concern of the families is of the utmost and you indicated you would be willing to have this external, independent examination put in place for the families.
"We would request once again a meeting with you to have this matter finalised and a start date announced to commence this examination in the very near future."
The Government insisted there are matters outstanding that must be finalised ahead of the first hearings, but declined to give a start date.
"The preparatory arrangements for the examination by Mr Gallagher are continuing," a Government spokesman said.
"These include necessary resources and accommodation, together with legal and administrative support staff.
"It is anticipated that the preparations will be completed very shortly and that Mr Gallagher will soon meet with the legal team representing the Stardust Victims Committee to make arrangements of the presentation of their case."
Solicitor for the Stardust families Greg O'Neill has already received €200,000 in public money for professional and legal costs to make sure the relatives are properly represented.
Forty-eight people were killed and more than 200 injured in the Stardust fire, which engulfed the nightclub in Artane, north Dublin, in the early hours of February 14, almost 27 years ago.
Relatives of the victims never accepted the findings of the original inquiry chaired by former Chief Justice Ronan Keane, which concluded the blaze was probably started deliberately.
The new inquiry will involve scrutiny of existing evidence and the assessment of a dossier on the tragedy compiled by the families, Nothing But The Truth.
