The solicitor representing the Stardust families has welcomed the appointment of senior counsel John Gallagher to assess new information, which they say justifies re-opening the inquiry into the 1981 disaster.
Greg O'Neill said the process would involve a presentation over a number of days involving the families and expert witnesses.
Mr Gallagher would then advise the Government on whether to re-open an inquiry into the Artane fire, which claimed the lives of 48 young people at a St Valentine's night disco.
Mr O'Neill said the families welcomed Mr Gallagher's appointment but were still awaiting word from the Government on funding for their presentation, which he estimated could cost €800,000.
This week, Stardust relatives threatened to mount pickets at election polling stations if their demands for an independent assessment of their claims were not met and today the Government has moved to appoint Mr Gallagher to do just that.
A statement said the Government had indicated last year that it would agree to an independent assessment of the 'Nothing but the Truth' file which the relatives group had compiled, and that Mr Gallagher had agreed to carry it out.
