Families and survivors called for justice for the victims of the Stardust disco fire today as a poignant ceremony took place to remember the 48 young people who lost their lives 25-years ago.
Christine Keegan, who lost her two daughters Martina and Mary in the horrific blaze in the Stardust disco in Artane, north Dublin on St Valentine's Day 1981, released 48 white pigeons to remember the victims.
"A lot can be done for justice and we are going to get it," she said on the inferno which no one has been called to account for.
Mrs Keegan said the families and survivors were considering picketing a pub, which was on the same site as the Stardust.
The grandmother said she had heard the owners were believed to be reopening it on Tuesday, St Valentine's Day, which would be the 25th anniversary of their deaths.
On taking their quest for a full inquiry and the proper confirmation of where all of their loved ones are buried to the European Court of Human Rights, she said: "If we have to go that far we will."
The families of five young victims of the fire, who were buried in unnamed graves, still do not know in which grave their loved ones are buried.
Some of the families have been calling for the graves to be exhumed for DNA testing in an attempt to finally confirm the identities.
During the simple mass at St Joseph's Church in Bonnybrook, Coolock, Fr Kevin Moore, said anyone who was alive in the country in 1981 will never forget the awful tragedy that had caused havoc in the surrounding communities the space of minutes.
"Many people in other countries as well will never forget the tragedy of the Stardust fire, it shocked and saddened the entire country," he said, as the packed congregation, including members of the Dublin Fire Service and singer Christy Moore who has offered his support to families, sat silent.
Fr Moore said it was both frightening and awful as many of the victims were just young people, the majority of whom came from the north Dublin areas of Donnycarney, Artane, Bonnybrook and Coolock.
Fr Moore said the nightmares and trauma of those who survived will never leave them.
After the 48 candles were lit to mark the victims, a ceremony was held in the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Sharon O'Hanlon said it was only as the survivors had grown older the realised how little had been done by authorities to help them.
Catherine Darling, who escaped the blaze, said people felt the site of the Stardust fire should have been levelled and the memorial placed there instead of at Coolock.
Mrs Keegan said any apology from Eamon Butterly, the general manager and one of the owners who received over £580,000 from the State, was now too little too late.
Investigations into the fire found one of the emergency exits was chained and padlocked, two others were obstructed by skips or tables.
Those who tried to escape the blaze through the toilet windows, found they were blocked with metal grilles and steel plates to ensure people did not get into the disco without paying.
PA