LAST UPDATE | 28 Apr 2023
FAMILY MEMBERS SEARCHED “for days” to locate a young man who died in the Stardust nightclub tragedy, before he was identified by his sister through his watch, the Coroner’s Court has heard.
The fourth day of the inquests are taking place today in the Pillar Room in the Rotunda Hospital, with family members reading out pen portraits that detail the lives of their loved ones who died in the Stardust fire in 1981.
The tragedy saw 48 young people die in a fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane on Valentine’s Day 1981.
The pen portrait of Michael Farrell (26) was read by his niece Lynn Darcy, who told the jury that there had been “so much heartbreak” following the fire.
Ms Darcy told the court that it had been written by her mother Monica Darcy – Michael’s sister – before she died of cancer last year.
The court heard that Michael was a “brilliant son” and that he would do anything for his mother.
“He would do anything for her, anything that needed to be done Michael would do. He was a brilliant son,” Ms Darcy told the jury.
The court heard that Michael’s brother Pat was in the dancing competition that night, and that Monica had intended to go but was unable to find a babysitter.
She described how her uncle Pat had tried to find Michael in the immediate aftermath of the fire, but had to return home to relay the message that he was missing.
Ms Darcy told the jury that Michael’s family searched everywhere looking for him, with worries that he may have been in shock.
She added that her parents and grandparents searched for days, before her mother Monica went to the mortuary and identified Michael as a victim through his watch.
The jury heard that it was then several more days before Michael was formally identified through his dental records.
“That fateful night destroyed my parents,” Ms Darcy said.
“Michael was never coming home,” she added, telling the court that her family never got the chance to see Michael or say goodbye.
She added that, even though it is more than 40 years on, it “still feels like yesterday”.
Ms Darcy also told the court of Michael’s girlfriend, Thelma Frazer (20), who also died in the fire.
“I hope she knew how much she meant to him,” Ms Darcy said, adding that Michael had described her as his soulmate.
Michael also told his family that he wanted to marry Thelma, with Ms Darcy telling the jury: “They died before he could have asked her.”
Angela Shepherd, Michael’s niece, also spoke during his pen portrait and said that all 48 people who died in the Stardust fire were still awaiting justice.
“Imagine you never went home. What would your family’s reaction be if they never saw you again, never spoke to you again, never held you or hugged you again,” Ms Shepherd told the court.
She added that their portraits have remained “suspended in time” for four decades, as they have awaited “justice and accountability”.
“We want our loved ones to rest in peace.”
Pen portraits for David Flood (18) were also read by his nephew Ciarán David Flood, who told the court that he was the youngest of two sons and had been “good natured” and was “a bit of a rocker”.
The jury heard that David had gone home after work on the night of the fire, before departing for the Stardust.
Mr Flood told the court that his father and mother – David’s brother and his girlfriend – had also been due to attend the nightclub, but said that they were “fortunate” to have had a falling out that night and did not go.
Mr Flood said that it had been a normal night for the family until they heard about the fire, when “panic set in” and his father and grandfather began searching for David.
He told the court that they visited hospitals but were unable to find him, before the family received a phone call to bring them to the mortuary.
The jury heard that his father, grandfather and a neighbour – Mr Roche – went to the morgue. However, Mr Flood’s father and grandfather were overcome with grief and Mr Roche had to identify David’s body.
“My Nanny and Granda lost their youngest son. My dad lost his only brother,” Mr Flood said.
“The devastating way in which Dave died had – and still has – an enormous impact on his family.”
The inquest also heard the pen portrait of Michael Ffrench (19), which was read by his sister Caroline Tiernan, who described him as the family’s rock and his death caused significant trauma for her mother.
“Michael was and still is our legend. Our leader, our protector and our friend. He was our rock,” Ms Tiernan said.
“He was taken in the prime of his life which devastated our whole family and community.”
Ms Tiernan described him as a gentle giant and recalled him bringing his other siblings to St Anne’s Park in Raheny on the crossbar of his bike.
The oldest of seven children, Michael was the first in the family to get a job and worked as an auto electrician, Ms Tiernan told the jury.
She said that he often worked long hours, but was generous with his wages which would be used to fund the extracurricular activities of the other children.
Ms Tiernan said that her family has vivid memories of the “chaotic devastation and helplessness we lived through following the fire”.
“It was like a nightmare that was never-ending,” Ms Tiernan told the inquest as Michael was not officially identified for 25 years.
Ms Tiernan said that she recalled her mother saying that: “My beautiful boy is gone and my heart is broke.”
She added that her mother had a “complete mental breakdown” following Michael’s death and that she had to spend a long period of time in hospital afterwards.
The long wait for an official identification was also difficult for the family, with Ms Tiernan describing the “crushing grief” caused by following his coffin to the altar for a second time.
“Michael was our eldest brother. He was a role model for me, my brother, sister and his friends.
“We cherish the memories we have of him when we were growing up. For him to be taken away from all who loved him has left a void in our hearts which will never be filled.”
The inquest is due to resume next Tuesday morning, with additional pen portraits set to be read by family members of those who died in the Stardust fire.
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