Liam Dunne (18), from Coolock, was naturally quiet, but had discovered a new confidence in his role as trainee butcher in Superquinn, chatting and joking to all the customers. He had a passion for music and would pool money with his sister to buy records.
Background
Liam was an 18-year-old young man. Liam was the third youngest in our family and was a truly loved son and brother. He was training as a butcher, which he loved. Liam was quite a loving boy and had many friends that he enjoyed being with. We both loved music and would pool money together to by records. The last one we bought together was Rainbow's 'Since you Been Gone’.
Stardust Fire
Liam left the house that evening on the 13th of February 1981 to enjoy time with his friends after a hard week of work.
My father Jimmy and my brother Alan were working Mother’s Pride on nights and heard about the fire in the Stardust over the radio, so they came home when work was over.
We went out to look for Liam, and on the Saturday morning after the fire, I found Liam in the Mater hospital. Mum and dad had been searching for him; Alan walked by him numerous times. A lot of my friends were there that night, so it was horrible walking through the hospital, searching, and the smell, I’ll never forget.
My friend Bernard Hogan was there, and he asked me to look for his brother, Eugene. I told him I was looking for my brother, Liam. Bernard said, "your man over says he’s Liam".
It was Liam, his face was all swollen, hands and arms in bandages. He just kept spitting up this stuff. I said, "I’m here Liam, it’s Siobhan". He said, "I was crawling, my hands were on the seats, my hands were melting, the seats were not on fire". I was so shaken I had to leave. I met my mother and father coming up the corridor and told them I had found him.
That evening, Liam was taken for an operation because the blood flow to his hands was bad. He was moved to the ICU that night and was given 24 hours to live. He was put beside his good friend Jimmy Fitzpatrick. And as those hours turned into days, turned into weeks we thought Liam had a chance. For the next month, we were up in hospital every day. Myself and Jimmy’s mam would spend time in the church in the Mater Hospital, praying and hoping. On the 10th of March I spent hours making tapes so they could listen to the music as they lay there in pain.
I was on my way up on the 11th of March; Liam died that morning at 1150. Liam was the last to die on the 11th of March 1981.
Since then
I died also. I was 16 and the pain of that sadness has never left me. I can say the weeks we were in hospital were the most terrible and saddest time in our family’s life. Liam was truly a strong young man, and this was proven during his battle to live.
Liam was buried in Sutton graveyard aged 18, a month to the day of the fire.
That month ripped our family apart. To watch my lovely mother cry and just stare. No talking, just tears. My older brothers were away serving their country. They had to come home on a lonely flight not knowing what was to await them. Our family tried to support each other, but like most, trying to understand the grief and pain and sadness left us silent.
My brother’s passing has resulted in changing all of us as people because living with such a young death at a young age causes a pain you carry with you throughout your life.
Conclusion
To this day my brother is missed very much. As most families, he should have been 21. He should have been married. He should have had the opportunity to travel. He should have had the opportunity to drive a car. I hope from all of this inquest, that the families find the truth, peace and justice.
