State apology to Stardust families could come as early as Tuesday
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Simon Harris could issue a State apology to the families of the Stardust tragedy as early as next Tuesday.
The Taoiseach is due to meet with the families of the 48 young people who died in the nightclub fire in 1981 on Saturday, saying he wants to listen to the families.
Following fresh inquests, a jury returned a verdict that they were unlawfully killed. It comes after a previous finding in 1982 that the fire had been started deliberately.
Families of the victims embraced one another after the verdict at the Pillar Room in Dublin city.
A spokesperson for Mr Harris confirmed that the Taoiseach will address the Stardust tragedy in the Dáil on Tuesday.
“The Taoiseach has also spoken to the two coalition party leaders and members of the opposition. The Taoiseach will seek to address the Dail on Tuesday on Stardust,” the spokesperson said.
“His priority, however, remains engagement with the families first.”
Speaking earlier, Mr Harris said: “I'm very keen to meet with the families, very conscious that these families have felt unheard for decades,” Mr Harris said. “I want to make sure that they know that I'm listening, that I want to hear them.
“Of course, I wanted to be in the position as Taoiseach to apologise on behalf of this country, but I think the most appropriate thing to do is to seek to meet with them.”
The Taoiseach said that he spoke with leading campaigner, Antoinette Keegan, while he was in Brussels this week.
Mr Harris said he anticipates that meeting could take place over the weekend.
The Taoiseach added that gardaí would be reviewing the result of the inquest and that this was “right and proper”.
“That obviously happens independent of the Government and the political system and I’m also conscious that my colleague, the Minister for Justice, will ask the Attorney-General to consider the report from the coroner as well, the outcome of the inquest,” Mr Harris said.
“But as Taoiseach I feel very strongly that it is important that the State recognises the pain, the suffering, the trauma and the appallingly long time these families have had to work, campaign and, in many cases, fight for truth and justice.”