Courts / Dublin / Report
Stardust doorman pulled girl from blaze, inquest hears
Summary
During the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, doorman Patrick J. Murphy testified that at 1:45 am he was alerted to a fire in a corner near the main bar. He attempted to extinguish it but the blaze spread, causing the ceiling to collapse and fill the area with smoke and fumes. He and two others crawled into the burning section, pulled a young girl who was "completely on fire" out of the club, and found her apparently dead. Murphy also described helping others escape through windows and assisting in removing grating. The inquest heard statements from other staff, noting blocked exits, a mobile ramp obstructing an exit, and a missing horizontal bar on an exit door. The testimony highlighted the chaotic conditions and obstacles that hindered evacuation during the blaze. The inquest continued the following day.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Stardust doorman pulled girl from blaze, inquest hears. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 14, 1981 Other
- 2023-06-28 Publication
Places mentioned
- Rotunda Hospital
Topics
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