Stardust group to continue campaign after ruling

Relatives of the victims of the Stardust fire have vowed to continue protests against the transfer of a licence for the Silver Swan pub situated on the site of the tragedy, despite the District Court granting the switch this morning.

The pub, which was due to open on the 25th anniversary of the disaster last month, is now being transferred from the name of the nightclub owners Patrick Butterly and Sons Ltd to that of Jason Gamble.

Forty-eight  people died in the 1981 fire and relatives and survivors have consistently objected to a profit making enterprise being opened up on the site, regardless of the identity of the licensee.

The Stardust Victims' Committee recognised however that Judge Mary Collins was in no position to refuse the transfer of the licence, and admitted today that it was the expected result.

Speaking after the hearing, spokeswoman Antoinette Keegan told ireland.comthat relatives and survivors of the fire would keep up their protests outside the Silver Swan pub.

"We were kind of expecting it," said Ms Keegan. "The judge was very sympathetic...she had to go by the law.

"We find no fault in the judge herself, if she could have changed the law there and then she would have."

Some of the group's demands have been met. Mr Gamble's pub

will now revert to being called Skelly's Lounge, rather than the Silver Swan, which was the name of the original bar adjoining the Stardust nightclub. A memorial to those who lost their lives is also to be erected on the site.

Ms Keegan described these moves as "little steps" and insisted that the relatives and survivors "will get what we want in the end. We'll get our justice for the 48."

The committee is not in direct contact with Mr Gamble despite declaring that they would meet with him. Mr Gamble reciprocated according to Ms Keegan but she added that the committee did not expect it to happen soon.