A preliminary examination of what is claimed to be new evidence about the cause of the Stardust tragedy is under way in Dublin.
The independent investigation by Senior Counsel Paul Coffey will decide whether or not to recommend a reopening of the public inquiry into the disaster.
Mr Coffey will hear details of the evidence from victims, families and technical experts until Thursday at least, before submitting a report to Government.
48 people died in the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane in north Dublin in the early hours of Valentine's Day 1981.
A subsequent public inquiry found that the cause of the inferno was probable arson.
However, families of the victims of the tragedy say they have uncovered new evidence which will discredit that finding.
Speaking on her way into this morning's opening session, Antoinette Keegan of the Stardust Victims' Committee said it had been a long fight to get to this stage.
