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'We said we'll all hold onto each other': Stardust survivor who lost two sisters gives evidence to inquest

Summary

Antoinette Keegan, 18 at the time of the Stardust fire, gave evidence at the Dublin District Coroner's Court. She recalled holding her sisters Martina (16) and Mary (19) as the blaze spread, saying, "We said we'll all hold onto each other and then we'll all get out together." Keegan described the fireball falling from the ceiling, the locked exits (Exit 5 and Exit 4), and the panic that ensued. She was pulled out by Thomas Larkin, who later told her family he had saved her. Keegan's testimony included her memory of the fire's intensity, her own burns, and the loss of at least seven close friends or relatives. She also spoke of the guilt she felt after surviving while her sisters perished, her subsequent hospitalisation, and her long‑term post‑traumatic stress. The inquest heard other survivors' accounts, but the focus remained on Keegan's detailed recollection of the night.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'We said we'll all hold onto each other': Stardust survivor who lost two sisters gives evidence to inquest. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 1981 and 2019 Other
• 2023-10-24 Publication

Why: Before her evidence began, coroner Dr Myra Cullinane told Ms Keegan: "Of course we know it's going to be very difficult for you in particular because you have such close connection to your two siblings who lost their lives" and said if she needed a break at any stage to let her know. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report