The Stardust Nightclub Fire | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror
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- Опубликовано: 16 май 2024
- "On the 14th of February, 1981, in the early hours of the morning, Peter O’Toole used a public telephone in the foyer of the Stardust nightclub in Dublin to place a call to the police..."
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Background
01:28 - The Stardust Nightclub Fire
07:37 - The Aftermath
MUSIC:
► "Glass Pond" by Public Memory
► "Underworld" by Myuu
SOURCES:
► Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry on the Fire at The Stardust, June 1982. Available via: archive.org/stream/329996-796...
► Report of the Stardust Victims' Compensation Tribunal. Available via: opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Libr...
► "The night that started like any other" by Jennifer Cosgrove, published by The Irish Times, September 2019. Link: www.irishtimes.com/student-hu...
► "A grim uncertainty that haunts Stardust families" by Kathy Sheridan, published by The Irish Times, February 2006. Link: www.irishtimes.com/news/a-gri...
► "Stardust tragedy: On this Day in 1981, 48 people lost their lives in a Dublin nightclub fire" by Rachael O'Connor, published by The Irish Post, February 2020. Link: www.irishpost.com/news/stardu...
► "'No new inquiry warranted': Stardust report finds cause of fire may never be known" by Christina Finn, published by The Journal, November 2017. Available via: web.archive.org/web/201911052...
#Documentary #History #TrueStories
If this channel has taught me nothing else, get out at the first sign of fire. It doesn't matter if you think it's small or non-threatening. Everything can change in a second.
I was thinking the same, I would be out, no matter how 'small and manageable' a fire seemed
I think most fire alarms work that way too, they dont say if you're going to die just get out and thats the end of it for you.
That's just what I posted. Never think "It's just a small fire. They'll put it out."
And never, EVER go back for anyTHING, like the guitarist for Great White at the Station nightclub did! Objects can be replaced, people cannot!
@@Lady_Flashheart40 let the pros do their job yes, but if you have to go back for a person or animal, then do what you have to do. I'd rather die trying to save someone vs live knowing I (potentially) let them die. Elderly, children, mentally-ill, pets, and those who are physically impaired are a priority too.
Despite never having heard of this tragedy, it's sadly unsurprising that it adds *yet another* example both to the "blocked fire doors got people killed" pile and the "victims never really compensated" pile.
This drives me nuts because I work on doors and you should always have free egress This is actually covered in the Americans with disabilities act
You noticed that trend too?
ShakeJands-li4mg The problem with that is the number of people who will sneak other people, drugs or weapons in through a back door. This video mentioned the teenagers who tried to sneak inside. If people weren't doing that, it would be much easier to have easily accessible exits to be used in emergencies.
@@ShakeJands-li4mg I'm not at all familiar with modern Irish law, but I wouldn't be surprised if Ireland had something similar on the books around the time this happened even back in 1981. It's just that people actually effectively complying with such laws is an entirely different thing regardles of country since humanity is going to humanity, especially since in this case unlike too many other fire cases, it seems like all the doors *were* unlocked. It's just that either didn't visually appear that way or that something external was still in the way that the club owners might not have necessarily has control over even if their on-site staff still should have enforced an obvious "don't block emergency exits, asshole" protocol. Of course, given that it would seem *none* of their staff was ever given any real emergency instructions to begin with, the additional failure to do even that much is also unsurprising.
@@daerdevvyl4314 I fully agree. It's easy to point fingers at personnel for blocking doors, but they don't block doors because they think it's fun. It's because there are many criminals in society and a 100% chance of criminal use outweighs the 0,01% of a fire. Those criminals are as much to blame for these fires.
In the case of cars blocking doors etc., that's different. Those people should have their license revoked.
My sister was supposed to go to the Stardust that night with her friend from work. But my other sister moved her purse, she couldn't find it. So was late leaving so decided not to go. Her friend was killed in the fire.
So sorry for the loss of your sister’s friend
That's God.
@@prpemail1885more like a coincidence
What makes you lie?
@john1048 there's ALWAYS one that makes the comment you have. Give it up
There is a song written bout the fire called "They Never Came Home", released by Irish folk singer Christy Moore in 1985. Apparently, the owners of the nightclub didn't appreciate how the lyrics implicated their culpability for the disaster and had the song banned from retail by court order. What a class act.
Gotta love the Streisand effect. Because they tried to censor it, you made a comment that led me to seeking out a song I’d never heard of. I’m sure many more know about the song specifically because the owners wanted it banned than if they had just ignored it.
Maybe the owners have a point. If the proof of the fire was never determined then I understand their reasoning.
And yes, you could say there was responsibility due to blocked fire exits and so on, but maybe the owners weren't there that night, maybe they left the day to day managing in other people's hands and so on.
And this sort of oversight still happens to this day, sadly it's never questioned by anybody until something goes wrong
ashlogan2049 Also, the owners wouldn't block fire exits if people weren't trying to sneak in through them.
@@daerdevvyl4314ounds like a fault of security.
Edit: by fault, I mean that the exits being blocked is not a good way to secure them. Use internal locking which immediately gives way to someone attempting to open it whilst also blasting an alarm. Encourages easy fleeing whilst discouraging needless use. -Perhaps an internally swinging door would mitigate the car and bin issue.- As pointed out by someone else, inward doors are good for causing harm to a panicking crowd. Follow the motion of the crowd trying to get out with doors swinging out.
@@lenshibo thanks for teaching me about an effect I’ve never heard of :)
Thanks for covering this. I live nearby to that building. It's being torn down and redeveloped at the moment. An eyesore left too long. That fire scourged a huge swathe of a community. The 48 immediate deaths were a huge loss, followed by the deaths of injured survivors, many injured to the point of disfigurement, the many Survivors who couldn't live with the guilt and those who could live with it but turned to drink and drugs to cope. By any fair estimate far more than 48 lives were stolen. It ruined a generation of a community.
😢
Thanks for this. That's what I was thinking. I was 21 and flat sharing in Terenure when my flatmate told me the next morning.
No closure. No justice. Just a life of suffering and horror for so many. I read here there's another investigation.
I also thought he mispronounced Donnybrook, but I see now where it is and the Memorial Garden. I didn't remember the area.
God Rest Them All.
good lord, the building is still there ?? Is it stil a burnt shell ?? It's been sitting there for 40 years like that ?
@@TheTurkaderr I forgot to mention that. 👍
Is that true it was only coming down recently?
@@TheTurkaderr In the video there's a photograph (from 2010) at 00:51-00:56 of the repaired and renovated building.
The original investigation into this appears to have been a farce. It was claimed the store room was downstairs when, in fact, it was upstairs. The store room walls were not solid, against fire safety regulations. There was no evidence of arson, yet they effectively blamed the victims, concluding an unknown patron had deliberately set the fire.
It's ridiculous that Christy Moore got into more trouble for his song about this tragedy, than anybody has for this tragedy.
Certainly makes you wonder who the owners knew and why they were investigated with a blind eye.
Well said.
Why would somebody get in trouble for a song?
@@Megan-sf5vfBecause in a song “They never came home” he sang “And all because the fire exits were chained” this was before the sham inquest was held,A new inquest is now taking part in Dublin.
Pretty much the same reasons that anyone gets in trouble for a protest song -- those who have a vested interest in the status quo want the singer(s) to SHUT THE HELL UP about all the issues!
My cousin was the first out of that toilet as she was the thinest , ine bar down and she was pulled through, she had some horrible eye witness stories of some people in that toilet.
She sat down in the ambulance and after a while discovered our other cousin in the ambulance also covered in black soot, that was a reunion… you can imagine.
Around the corner from me, three people died from the one family, we knew them, they were a nice family, their dad was in the fire brigade, sadly called to the scene that night. The siblings each had been seen outside but … went back in to rescue each other😢.
Horrible time for Dubliners.
So, the 3 had escaped and didn't see each other so they went back inside and died? The poor father.. How can you move on from that?
@@chrislemery8178 yes … exactly.
🫂
Love, prayers and hugs from across the pond.
Oh Jesus. I am curious what her eyewitness stories were, but I am sure she does not like to share
That so many ppl are pleased when you cover a tragedy close to home is a credit to the care you put into these videos. Nobody does a better job of introducing ppl to a tragedy while still treating it with gravity and respect.
Totally agree!
I agree.
Well said
To the creators of this channel: Because of your content and detailed coverage on cause and effect of devastating issues, I am now perusing my PhD in economics and human behavior. You see, your take of historic events did influence someone. Thank you.
Good luck and success to you 🍀
Good luck! ✌️
yay
It's wonderful to hear about someone lighting a candle instead of cursing the darkness. Good luck with your studies, and if it ever gets too hard, remember the lives you'll save someday... even if you never hear about it directly.
You all are the best. Love you much.
I have very developed fear of fire, raised on the specter of the Boston, US, Cocoanut Grove fire in 1947 which my parents drilled into me and thankfully.. I always know the escape routes and at the least mention of fire I'm gone. No merrymaking, I'm gone. Get out and get out now.
No need to be scared just remember too respect it .
When possible, I always sit near an exit. At the very least, make sure you take note of where they are when you arrive.
The Coconut Grove fire is the reason that now all exterior doors must open outward.
Same. Know where the operating exits are, always!
And always look for the exit that most people don't come in.
Meaning, look for a side or back door exit. In an emergency, about 80% will immediately go to the same door they came in which is where the crush and bottleneck injuries happen.
Failed to get the bars off the window with a tow rope and fire engine... this is why I refused to let my mother bar her windows on her house. "It might keep someone out mom, but it will definitely keep you in if the shit hits the fan"
If she had another way to rapidly exit then barring them isn't a bad idea. The problem is how many people would consider that and ensure to act on it?
But why can't she bar her windows? Unless it's an apartment or something. But if it's her own house, she wouldn't be blocking her own exits. If she's considering bars, she's worried about break ins, and people get killed that way😔 Well, whatever happens, I pray your mom stays safe 🙏✌️
@@gohawks3571 she is only worried about break ins because she way too much of the news. 😂 her neighborhood is the type where they look out for each other, she could get away with never locking her door and be perfectly safe.
It's a preference that she does not have bars because the lay out of her house. If she was in her bedroom and a fire broke out in the kitchen she'd have zero access to the front or back door. I like the peace of mind knowing she can get out a window if she needed to. I've seen some "security" bars that are just a deterrent, they look secure but the hardware is designed to break away, if price didn't matter that'd be the way to go
@@gohawks3571 Your chance of dying in a fire at home is orders of magnitude higher than being murdered by someone coming in through a window. Even in the most dangerous US cities home invasion murders are exceptionally rare.
@@Urapunk Oh, that's interesting; didn't know those existed! Well, as long as she's safe✌️ At least you care about your mom😇
I was on-duty (security) that night, listening to the police radio, which one could on any VHF set back then, and I remember the dispatcher coming on and saying "All units go to the Stardust, urgent, there's a fire, and if you see any beatmen take them with you." I was quite near the central fire station in Tara Street, and I walked out the door of the premises I was in, and watched the fire engines go past. It was obvious from the police calls that it was no ordinary fire, though I had no idea just how bad it actually was. But for years it was claimed that the fire was started by someone in the club, a patron, which absolved the owners of a lot of responsibility (never mind blocked fire doors, ect) and only fairly recently did anyone admit it started in a room above the club, since, as you mention, the fire could be seen through the roof before anyone noticed it below. A friend of my wife was a firefighter, and he rescued a woman trapped in the toilets, sharing his air mask with her to get her through the smoke.
Oh man, I don't understand arson. Especially! With people in the structure you're burning. The only thing that I can remotely come up with (and is still not ok) is if a bunch of kkk/Nazi people were in a building. I just can't.... Burn you own stuff. That's still not ok! But at least it's starting with your own thing. So terrible 💔💔💔 I suppose it's totally different if it was accidental somehow; if that's the case I'd feel bad for that person 😔
A few comments up is a woman who's cousin was the girl rescued from the bathroom window. Imagine that.
sigh arson is often a sexual crime . this fire doesn’t sound like arson at all
@@christyrodrigue6628I was going to say this. Sounds like her.
Verdict yesterday from the inquests. All 48 victims of unlawful killing. Doors were locked. And the fire started in a hot press in the main bar of the venue and was caused by an electrical fault. So definitely not arson. 🥀
Once he switched to the bathroom's view, the sight of the window covers weren't so bad until you notice the clear, numerous nail-scratches on them due to desperation to escape. My condolences to the victims
Oh my god. Didn’t notice that until you mentioned it. Unimaginable horror….
Those aren't nail scratches
They don't look like nail scratches, more like drippings
I’m seeing a mixture. The vertical lines look like drippings or warping on the covers. But there are lines coming across at odd angles on the covers and wall that look more like marks of hands. In any case, these people were rescued, which makes it at least a little less chilling.
"The fire appeared small and controllable"; famous last words.
The new inquest found today that the fire was started by an electrical fault in the bar area, and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.
Thank you for covering a tragedy that happened in my country. I hope the families of this disaster get the justice they truly deserve
They actually never did.
@@nevaehhamilton3493 There's an inquest going on right now. Theres still hope yet ❤
My sister, who's the one of us who would actually go out clubbing, came into the room while I was watching this and I told her to leave immediately when when she sees a fire, even if it looks like it's small. Fires can so easily get out of control.
Good point. As mentioned, those in attendance just saw a small fire, not realizing how bad it actually was. Always best to assume the worst and evacuate.
I'm the WHS Officer at my small office so 'the fire door was blocked' is a sentence that always makes chills roll up my spine. Its disturbing how often this happens and I bet anyone reading this could go to their workplace or school and find at least one blocked.
I saw this at grammar school.
Saw this most recently at a show in Chicago's Uptown called the Theo Ubique theatre. It was a small place. The show was The Andrews Sisters.
There wasn't one fire extinguisher I saw. No panic bars on doors.
They blocked one exit with a drum kit. No joke.
They LOCKED the door "only during the performance..." with those locks that can be a bit fidgety.
I said, the fire code says nothing about "during the performance" or not...
Had a hell of a time trying to get anyone to look into it, too. Chicago is always it's own little feifdom and it was always "charmingly corrupt."
Illinois state wouldn't touch it. Had to call CHICAGO fire Marshall, if I remember right!
For reference, you ALWAYS want visible extinguishers, namely where there's lights (high electricity draw, and they're extremely hot!) Or sound (2 dB of bass increase=2x the power) or cooking.
I will say they were fanatical about keeping aisles clear, not sure if it was for waiters/performers or fire codes. I'm voting on the former.
They moved to Evanston by now, but I'll never forget it. That wasn't that long ago, either!
I saw this at a restaurant in my city some months ago. I reported it to the fire dept. I don’t know what happened after that.
Was a health and safety officer for a retail company. Answer is yes, frightening how quick their covered as well by flammable materials such as cardboard or pieces of wood such as a broken pallet.
My advice for any fire safety officer reading this is do your rounds, follow a routine and don't skip any part of the routine.
@ddelaney712 And don't excuse ANYTHING. If you noticed it, something is probably wrong, and you should double down on being the most extreme critic a venue could see.
Ignore any human sob stories or sweet talk and focus 100٪ on the physical facts in front of you.
I'm a H&S consultant, surprise inspections are part of the job . Usually there'll be janitorial equipment and excess stock in the corridor leading to the exit and there'll be bins and pallets blocking the exit from the outside.
As one of the people who suggested you review this event I thank you for covering it in a sensitive manner. It has many of the same fire safety lessons as so many other fires. What is unique to the Stardust is the corrupt culture that allowed the rich owners to be absolved of responsibility, while shifting the blame to the young people attending the event. As an Irish person this type of thing makes me deeply ashamed. Let us hope that the current inquiry reaches some more rational conclusions and holds people accountable.
Blame whom? The owners or the people not doing the reasonable thing of getting out of there soon as the fire was seen. To assume a fire is small is a bad bet.
@@dennis2376Classic case of blame the victims. You’re disgusting.
@@dennis2376are you new here? And did you miss the part where fire exits were blocked and windows were covered in bars so strong even the fire department couldn’t remove them? Buzz off.
@@Norfnorf12Or indeed the bit where the flammable materials were being stored inappropriately.
@@cooperised That is true, but the people did not get out when they could, that is on them.
Hi, long-term fan of this channel. I was born, raised and still live a mere 5 minute drive from the site of the Stardust fire. My mother was reared just down the road from the business park and was a young teen at the time. I remember her telling me about the sky turning red and the rake of funerals that took place following the disaster, and that if she was just a few years older she probably would’ve probably been at the club too that night. Some families lost more than one member. A small baby lost both of her parents in the blaze. The pain caused by this disaster is still palpable in my local area and the struggle for answers and justice that the families have had to fight for literal decades is one of the biggest national disgraces since the foundation of the Irish state. Thank you so much for shining a light on this awful tragedy. There is a new inquest taking place into the fire at the moment and I really really hope that it will result in the families receiving even a shred of closure 🤍
Justice delayed is justice denied. Shame on those who have allowed it to take SO LONG for the victims of the fire & their families to get a reasonable accounting of this incident. Thanks for covering it.
"There were numerous issues with building code violations....but arson beats criminal negligence, so no fault." Sounds like a reasonable justice system...
I remember watching the RTE series about Stardust as teenager and asking the adults around me if they remember it. Their reactions were always the same.... shaking their head, their eyes darkning over as though remembering the horrors first hand. It is still so fresh in people's minds, I just cannot imagine how the families carry on. I do think it has made people very aware of the dangers associated with fire and I dont think anyone would ever dream of obstructing a fire escape. They would be ripped to shreads.
Too many times fire exits are locked or barred to prevent unauthorized entry, or theft.
Sadly it still happens all the time
one of my best friends is from dublin. his mom was supposed to go to but someone she knew came into town and she ended up not going to the club that night. if she had gone, who knows if she would have made it out.
RIP to everyone who went to have a night out at the club and lost their lives in a horrible way.
43 years later today 18th April 2024, the families have finally got justice. A new enquiry has found that all 48 victims were “Unlawfully killed “. May they rest in peace.
RIP to the 48 victims, this was preventable as the emergency exits were somewhat functional at the time of the fire.
This could have been prevented if the owner had not been cheapskates and actually used the money to buy fire safety measures. The things greedy people will do to save as much money as possible.
48 young people never came home... When you watch Stardust Mini-Series 2006 they recreated the tragic event, you can see what they went through. So scary that the roof collapsed on top of people and that fire doors were chained and blocked...May the 48 victims Rest In Peace. They will never be forgotten
One of the butterlys tried to buy the old man a drink in a pub in connemara. He put his arm around my dad's shoulders, the old fella turned and shoved him across the bar. A lot of people still resent the Butterlys for this
Fair play to your da. May the Butterlys get what's coming to them.
@jesseire666 Yeah,absolute scumbags the butterlys. I had to ask him what that was about and he told me about Stardust. Never saw him so angry
Fire is one of the most deadly elements if not respected, especially if it’s used for doing harm whether it’s accidental or not
Very sad. It is always the same problem; locked exits, poor staff training. I remember seeing a fire in the kitchen of my late grandmother’s house. My uncle stayed there. He was cooking something but fell asleep. I yelled at him to get out of the house and I then called the fire department. They came within minutes. My uncle claimed that he put the fire out, but the fire fighters discovered that flames were burning inside the walls of the kitchen. They were immediately extinguished and everything was okay. My uncle was angry at me at first but when he was told about the fire being in the walls of the kitchen and how it could’ve burned the house down with him inside, he apologized.
That is a beautiful memorial to those 48 lives lost in that fire.
FIRE is EXTREMELY TERRIFYING!!
U ABSOLUTELY did the rite thing by calling the fire department regardless that he was pissed off!! FIRE can possibly burn a house down within 30secs....the smoke alone is totally "toxic".... So I truly applaud you for being young and intelligent enough to call!! U saved both ur life, ur uncles life as well as the home in which u lived!! 💜👏🩷
@@helenawarsinnak I lived across the street from my late grandmother’s house. I was in my early 20’s when the fire happened. It was my other uncle who lived up the street who told him that I saved his life. He didn’t stop apologizing to me for some time. I had learned something new from the experience and yes, the smoke was toxic. Even after a few weeks, I could still smell smoke. My uncle learned a lot, as well.
@@garyreid6165 THANK GOD u were ALL safe in the end!! 😊 💜🙏
Quite true. I was taught that if you use a fire blanket for a kitchen fire to still call the brigade to check for a flue or ceiling fire that may not be obvious. The brigade would probably see it using thermal imaging. Better to be safe than sorry.
42 years, and they haven't solved the cause??? Even worse yet, those poor people, STILL HAVEN'T, been fully compensated??? WTF is taking so long?? Since the suspicion of arson is tossed out, the owners and/or, insurance company, needs to step up, and pay their obligations👍!!!! In the United States, even if it's deemed arson, the owners STILL have to compensate, being since they own the property, meaning there 100% responsible, and there's no getting out of that.
Never heard of this incident until now. Thanks for making this video.
The way the victims families have continued to be let down since that tragedy, puts an even worse mark on Ireland and the people in charge.Nothing short of disgraceful
even if it WAS arson, aren't they responsible for the atrocious safety measures they had in place? (which seemingly were 'none') 😒
That was my thought
It's one of those cases where a lot of what they did wasn't illegal at the time, but is now thanks to the fire. Sadly it usually takes death for regulations to change it's true all over the world.
Arson would be a criminal, deliberate act. All damage stems from that act legally. A bad example would be your wife cuts off your right hand and you jump in the car. But your Volkswagon is a stick shift. This slows your trip to the hospital and now you're partially brain dead or somethin. You can't blame the car for not having dual handed controls. It would have helped.....but you can't lay the blame at Volkswagon's feet. Your government can go to Volkswagon later and discuss some changes, or fine them for violations. But ultimately, your wife cut off your hand.
Arson is a criminal act and supercedes all other things afterwards
Great to see that you are covering a tragedy that happened in my own country and even to this very day revelations are still coming out about who was responsible the families of the victims have well and truly been failed here as their names have been dragged through the mud
Your channel is the pinnacle for this kind of content. You are, hands down, the best in your class.
RIP to the 48, may their families get justice this year as the court proceedings continue. Parents and families had to wait around for hours and some even for days at the police station, not knowing what happened to their loved ones and nobody to talk to them or support them. Their funerals were grouped and rushed, and the families couldn't add any personal touches. This one is close to my heart, thank you for covering it with the respect the victims deserve.
@@users-bibi50 Yes, and?
Having to serve a meal at an Irish nightclub happened for many years. Irish nightclub laws are really poor and out of date to this day. Much respect to the families for their decades of effort for finding the truth of this awful tragedy.
i wonder why that is
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, it took until 1989 before pubs could open on a Sunday. That's probably about the most progressive NI ever got.
@@mats7492 to secure a late licence, one had to impose a break when ordinary pub hours ended and the special late licence began.According to the letter of the law, during this interval, lights should be turned on, music switched off and food served. So throughout the 1980s and 1990s in Ireland, nightclubs, discos and dances had to serve food
The respect and dignity with which you cover your subjects really sets this channel apart. Please never bend to pressure from the algorithm
I appreciate it too, and he never has ads or begs for likes/subs. I hope he never does.
I grew up in Dublin not far from where the stardust stood. Slightly before my time, but my older sisters remember it well and had been there on other nights. My older sister used to take me to play in the memorial park and one day explained to me what the “dancing statues” meant. 💔
The families are still battling through the inquests. Some parents have passed away without having a conclusion to the investigation . A lot feel the Butterly family had the money and the clout to delay the investigations . Even Christie Moore released a song called They Never Came Home and it was said to have been suppressed. No radio stations would play it.
Thank you for bringing the case into the spotlight . I sincerely hope the family members soon get justice they’ve fought for over 40 long years 😢
There's still news and new findings coming out about this here in Ireland, despite all the years. Thank you for covering this.
So glad you covered this, I was going to ask you to as a firefighter who worked on this fire passed away recently and he had been a vocal critic of the investigation and stood with the Stardust families to demand justice
The injustice of the Stardust disaster and its aftermath is one of our country's greatest travesties (and trust me, there have been a few). I personally don't think that there will ever be full justice for those affected and those lost. 42 years on, it's a collective tragedy mourned by all generations in Ireland, we feel it still to this day. I wasn't born when it happened, but such tragedies transcend time, particularly so close to home. My heart goes out to the survivors and families of the victims. Thank you for covering something so pivotal to our modern history.
Verdict of unlawful killing was finally returned today. 43 years it's taken to prove the families right. The fire was caused by a faulty appliance and the toxic building materials and deliberately locked emergency exits were what caused 48 young people to lose their lives.
A new inquest was started last year and concluded this week it found that the most likely cause of the fire was an electrical fault in a hot press (an Irish term for cupboard in which heating equipment and a hot water tank is located). With the flammable decor contributing to the rapid spread of the fire, the lack of preparedness by the staff and doors being locked or otherwise obstructed hindering escape. A verdict of unlawful death was delivered.
Thank you for doing this one. Infuriating, and a painful memory for Ireland, but it shouldn't be forgotten.
I work from home but do occasionally go into the office too. I used to find it fairly silly that I still have to complete mandatory fire safety training every six months despite hardly ever being in the office but stories like this one remind me how important it is to have a plan of action in the event of a fire. Sure, it's very unlikely but it's not impossible.
I remember this as a child. It dominated the news for weeks. Very sad
What a shame that what was to be a fun & enjoyable evening turn out so devistateing.
So many lives cut so short & those left behind to morn such losses.
Thank you for remembering them.🙏
Something that often happens when an event is planned for fun is that anyone suggesting "but what if" is put down as being negative. So warnings get ignored and people throw caution to the wind.
NEVER think "It's just a small fire, they'll get it out" when you're in a public building. Evacuate immediately. You can always go back in later if the fire is put out.
My mother was going to go to the Stardust that night but she was grounded by my Grandmother
Thank God! Phew! I hope she didn't have friends there😔
Yay Granny!
I bet they were thick as thieves from then on, eh ? If my grandmother saved my life like that, she'd be my new best friend.
@gohawks3571 thankfully not, her friend didn't go because she wasn't going.
When someone tells you to stay calm, GET THE HELL OUT!!!
The enquiries into the disaster seem like they've gone on for an absolute age.
Feels like there are a lot of people who won't see the answers they need.
And the enquiry still going on as I write this in July 2023.
Yeah, that's on purpose, so you give up.
Shocking that the victims & families still haven’t received justice
When I started college in Dublin, there were several staff members there who had friends die that night in Stardust.
There are still more and more people alive today who were deeply affected and seek justice for the Stardust victims. It's a dark streak on their psyche.
Dang 😢
My uncle was working as a busboy that night
He got out unscathed, thankfully
But the whole event left him shaken
Thank you for covering - this effected our community so much
A missing piece of the story: How did Peter O'Toole escape and what was his experience? Since he was introduced as a "main character" (the only one, really) it seems this should have been covered.
I just want to echo what everyone else is saying. Your channel is by far the best for this sort of content and it hinges almost entirely on the deep respect you give these subjects. Thank you.
Can you imagine how different the rush to find the exits might be nowadays with everyone having a phone that comes with a flashlight?
I was fine watching this, but then burst into tears at the end. It was such a devastating tragedy. My grandparents are buried in St. Fintans in Sutton and I pass the graves of those killed and it's so sad. Let's hope the relatives and survivors get the justice they deserve ❤
Stop lying you didn't burst into tears after this.
Licensing authorities amaze me - instead of actually looking into safety procedures and staff training, a late license is determined by the availablity of food.
Obviously there's no reason that a nightclub shouldn't be open till 2am, but what difference does food make?
Years ago, (until maybe 2005) in Glasgow there were a couple of bars that served alcohol at 8am, with the proviso that there had to be food available, so in order to comply there were a couple of plates on the bar with fllled rolls...and that was it...job done.
To be fair, there was nothing wrong with any of these establishments, and they were pretty busy at that time in the morning, but it always struck me as ridiculous that the presence of filled rolls made everything lawful.
They were usually frequented by nightshift workers who wanted a pint after work, which seems entirely fair - just as long as they bought a 50p ham roll with their pint.
That's what makes the Stardust story frustrating - no ongoing staff training, flammable materials everywhere, blocked exits, bars on windows, no sprinklers, presumably no emergency lighting or fire alarm system - none of that mattered as long as there were some sandwiches.
The breakfast license proviso of food being served is because it is for night shift workers grabbing breakfast and a pint after work..... not folk wanting an early vodka. I held the only breakfast license in Renfrewshire outwith the airport, and after I sold up, the new owners lost it within 3 months - it is a VERY difficult license to gain, and extremely hard to keep, hence why you rarely see them granted these days. There are still a handful of pubs in Glasgow with them though, but the fact is rarely advertised.... I can only think of three tbh.
I used to have a lot of older customers who would meet up with their sons when their shift was finished as it was the only time they could see each other during the week, pensioners who wanted a cheap breakfast and some company, folk attending a funeral, and of course the night shift lads. Those early morning sessions were the most enjoyable to work, but as I said, its imperative that the license is operated correctly; if any customer thought they could come in just to get drunk, they were out the door!
Irish licensing law, especially in 1981, is different to modern standards, but food does still play a central role in occasional extensions because people are generally less likely to get blootered when a meal is involved. Serving food is also still a requirement to gain a childrens certificate, ie allowing under 18s on the premises.... families having a bar lunch, then leaving afterwards is fine, as traditionally they would go after they had eaten. Sadly that privilege is being increasingly abused by the public, hence why some bars now apply a 2 drink limit if you have an underager with you.
Under the current Scottish and English licensing regulations, staff training is mandatory, although that is mainly to do with alcohol provision. Health & safety is covered by Environmental Health who carry out regular inspections, and of course, you also have to keep your fire certificate valid - missing fire extinguishers or a chained fire door now could see your premises licence suspended, meaning you couldnt open until the faults were rectified.
I hope that helps to explain things a little for you. Like every other trade in the world, improvements mostly come about from tragedies.... and in the UK, we have come a lot further than you may realise. Im sure Irish licensing law will now be on a par too due to events such as The Stardust. xxx
Lady, of course it all matters but to put it in context this was Ireland in 1981. If you tried to operate a place like that today you just couldn’t.
Two years ago I had to remind the people at a local large supermarket (Real) a few times that it is not safe to park large floor cleaning machines in front of emergency exit doors. They removed it after I told them the first time. A few weeks later the same game again. One month later, they did it again. I had to threaten to call the fire safety authorities if I see it again. They have now changed the brand of supermarket and it is now leased to Kaufland. This was in Landshut, Germany. You would think that the other customers or the people working there have more common sense and say something, but obviously not. Just look around when you go to shops, venues and supermarkets next time and play the game called 'what if'?
I always try to be aware of fire and emergency exits when I go to movies or concerts. But I literally have never thought about this in the grocery store, which of course I frequent much more often. Thanks for your comment.
They lock doors in Chicago REGULARLY. Why? Shoplifters!
None of whom are awake when they do this. Usually in am. Imagine a big store and you're unable to get out because the DOOR is locked!
I've seen this at Dominic's. At World Market. They just block the whole GD thing with racks of crapola.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823Take photos and report it to the fire dept.
Thanks for covering this FH it's still big news here all these decades later and still so many unanswered questions linger on
This disaster shows how important clearly labelled fire exits and fire pathways are. Also, that a calm evacuation at the first sign of trouble is the best course of actions. Other things, like the fire crew not having angle grinders to cut through the bars would hopefully not be a problem in the 2020s, where even battery operated ones are easily accessible and should be available to every fire crew.
As a stardust family .it took 42 years to get to the truth and justice as the inquest is ongoing I refrain from says too mutch.
Just a big thank you for covering the story
I've been wondering how long it would be before someone covered this. I read about it and read the book "They Never Came Home: The Stardust Story". It's insane all the levels of negligence in this from the causes of the fire itself to the botched investigation. The stories in the book are truly haunting and I'm glad to see someone doing this story justice.
Goddamn, if this doesn't scream "people in the right places greased palms to avoid culpability," I don't know what does.
Been loving the consistent uploads for over a year now, keep up the good work!
I went to school with a girl whose parents were both killed in the fire. She would have been one when it happened. Such a devastating night.
It always amazes me that if people see a small fire, it's not a big deal. The owners were absolutely neglect. They should have trained the staff on emergency/fire response. Any fire that starts immediately begins an evacuation. Don't put bars on windows; find another way to secure the building. Make sure the emergency exits are all marked and clear. Here's a novel idea maybe add a few more emergency exits and make people aware of them. By 1981 these issues were all well-known from previous fires. No one should have died here.
Saw exit doors locked and chained at the Louvre museum in Paris. From that spot, it took me a 1/2 hour to get to the outside.
I remember when this one made the headlines... There was also a short documentary then about other nightclub fire tragedies to date, including the the huge Cocoanut Grove incident, the Karlslust, the Playtown Cabaret, the UpStairs Lounge, and the Beverly Hills Supper Club...
Never run back inside once you're out. Let the professionals handle it, don't throw you life away. I know the urge to go back in and save someone you care about is strong, but odds are A. they're already out or B. they're already dead. And in a blessed case of C. they get rescued by professionals.
Good morning Krusty crew
Still remember seeing the light of the fire from my bedroom window, God bless all the families
Heartbreaking 😢 my sincere condolences to all who lost their lives, the victims‘ families and friends.
Another sad example of a nightclub fire with blocked exits and no fire safety at the building. How many times need these devastating events to happen, before greedy club owners learn?
I always have these events in my mind… looking for emergency exits, staying near doors and if I don’t feel safe, I‘ll leave a location.
When you wake up to use the restroom and there's a new Fascinating Horror is the best 🙏🏿
Love your documentaries. Cant wait for new uploads. Keep up the great work !
Thank you for covering this.
I live close by and remember that night clearly the smoke and flames could be seen for miles, a new inquiry has been launched recently all fire exits were chained up and locked to stop people sneaking in the butterly family were responsible for lack of care towards its customers 😢
I’ve in many years had the interest in nightclub fires but for some reason the Stardust fire really is one of the most interesting. Still after all these years, no exact cause for the fire has never been examined. And then Butterly was given millions of pounds in incurence money while the those who’s suffered the worst wasn’t given a penny. I just say these in quote from a song:
”A Mother still waits for her kids to come home, injustice breeds anger, that’s was been done. Let us remember the suffering and pain, the survivors and the victims at the fire in Artane. Mothers and Fathers forever to mourn, The 48 Children Who Never Came Home”💔
You mention the confusing layout in many of your nightclub fire videos, which made me wonder something. Casinos are notoriously laid out to be hard to navigate. Are there any fascinating casino accidents where this was a factor?
This is technically a hotel fire, but the Dupont Plaza Hotel had a casino on its first floor, and the confusing layout of the casino did wind up killing many people when the hotel was set on fire. Not sure if I can add the full url, but if you paste 'EfQMESy_wms' into the address bar after the 'watch?v=' it will take you to the video FH did on this disaster. Hope this helps!
Thank you for covering this 👍
This happened in Artane next to where i went to school in Dublin, many who died in the fire where former students who attended the same school as I though this happened before my time, there are posters in the school about the teagedy and the inquest into what happened
I fell in love with your channel by watching all of your venue tragedies
I don't know what it was, but you opened my eyes to the safety issues of so many venues.
I think it was right around Astroworld, so this is quite a while back!
Thank you for always doing right by victims and survivors alike. Their lives give us more safety and security than they could ever have known.
Thanks for sharing this horrible incident.
Hello from Pennsylvania. Love your channel. Thanks for sharing!!❤
I had never before heard of this fire, Mr. Fascinating. As ever, your sensitive coverage of the events touches the soul.
Another great episode about a lesser known incident. Good job as always!
I had never heard about this tragedy before, so thank you for covering it. And in reading people's comments, I realize that I have never once paid any attention to where the exits are. I rarely go out ever since the pandemic, but I do still love a concert, and this video has ingrained in me the need to pay more attention. Thank you.
Watch and follow the employees. Always. They generally tend to live.
Always enjoy your content thank you as always
Thank you for this video. I suggested the Stardust be covered on this channel as I knew you would do so in a sensitive and informative way.
I know this is easy to say about things like that in retrospective, but honestly, if I was somewhere and I saw a fire at a place where fire shouldn't be, I'd be outta there
Me too. I've always been given the impression by other people in my life that my terror of fire is unreasonable and exaggerated, but after seeing so many stories like this I feel like the general populace isn't afraid ENOUGH of fire
I know,right ? I feel awful for saying this, but having watched enough of these videos, I dont even know if I would bother trying to get many peoples attention since they never seem to listen in these videos until its too late, I would just immediately begin finding my way out with whomever I arrived with that night and hope enough people catch on themselves quickly.
You do a wonderful job with your series.
I heard Peter O'Toole and I thought - the actor?
My heart goes out to the victims and the families. Much love from across the pond🙏💑
These type of appalling building fires are everyone's nightmare and Fascinating Horror indeed. Many thanks once again Sir 👍
Been following this channel since the beginning and I'm still just as in love with it as I was then.
Good morning 🌞 from Maryland. Thanks for the video 📸☺️