Ireland Cabinet Signed Off A Compensation Package Of €24 Million For The Families Of Stardust Tragedy
The Ireland cabinet signed off a compensation package, a redress plan, of €24 million for the families of the Stardust tragedy.
The cabinet further clarified the compensation money would be equally distributed between 48 families. That depends upon the agreement of the families affected by the Stardust catastrophe. In such a case, the fair compensation for each family would be €500,000.
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Ireland cabinet ministers met on Friday at 2:30 pm to discuss the redress plan. It was when all of the ministers were called one by one to sign off the memo for the said decision. A physical formal meeting followed after the signing took place.
Simon Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee were presented with the document for a thorough examination. The government-Ireland cabinet discussion came to an end with the participation of the family representatives.
The redress plan is designed as a comprehensive compensation plan for the victims of the Stardust tragedy that took place in a nightclub in 1981. A state apology came from the Taoiseach in the Dáil four months after the incident took place.
The actual incident is reminiscent of a Valentine’s night in 1981, resulting in the death of 48 people in the Stardust nightclub in Artane, north Dublin.
It was the largest fire disaster ever recorded in the history of Ireland. The fire left over 200 injured, some of whom suffered from long-term psychological effects.
The jury of Dublin District Coroner’s Court declared the incident as a result of an arson attack and an “unlawful killing” of 48 people. Proofs were gathered from the witnesses about how the fire started and how big the wreck was. Later, the evidence showed that the fire was initiated by an electric fault in a hot press on the premises.
The inquests for the incident were launched in April 2023; they were the longest recorded ever in the history of Ireland.
Mr Harris apologised before Ireland cabinet thought of a compensation package
Before the Ireland cabinet decided upon the compensation package, Mr Harris apologised to the families of the victims in April that the State had failed them. Individual letters as an expression of regret and apology were also sent to these families and a ceremony of Commemoration was set in the Garden of Remembrance on 23 June 2024.
The Taoiseach said, “The families gathered here today and their loved ones who perished, the family members who are no longer with us, and all those who suffered horrific injuries, were the victims of a mass tragedy”.
He asserted that such support might not be enough for dealing with the shattering circumstances of the families, still, this would be an aid for the citizens whom the state has failed.
Mr. Harris was aware of the seriousness of the situation because the victims’ families had to fight for justice and the truth for two generations after receiving a “cold shoulder and a deaf ear.” He felt great shame that they had to undergo such a shamefully distressing situation that caused misery upon them.
The redress scheme and a compensation package of €24 million are agreed upon with the families, following upon the inquest of criminal killing.
