Courts / Dublin / Report
Stardust patron gives emotional testimony of witnessing people on fire
Summary
James Cumiskey, 18 at the time, gave emotional testimony at the Stardust inquest, describing how he heard screams from trapped patrons and tried to break toilet windows but found a steel plate blocking them. He recalled smelling smoke, seeing flames through shutters, and urging people to exit as the club's lights failed. Cumiskey described seeing a man hanging from a canopy, a man with a hammer near the toilets, and later a fire‑filled roof. He also noted that people were on fire as they emerged from exit four. The inquest heard his earlier Garda statement, which detailed his attempts to help and the obstacles he faced. The testimony was part of the new phase of the inquest, focusing on patrons' experiences during the February 13, 1981 blaze. Eileen Rock, a 22‑year‑old mother, also testified, describing the chaos, dense smoke, and attempts to open metal shutters.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Stardust patron gives emotional testimony of witnessing people on fire. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 13, 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-10-10 Publication
Why: A patron at the Stardust nightclub has described how he heard the screams of people trapped inside the toilets as he attempted to break the windows and told how his efforts were futile because there was "a steel plate" in the way. CNI source report
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