Introduction
My name is Alan Morton, I am David's younger brother and only sibling and I will be representing my family today. We were a family of four, with my dad William or Bill as he preferred to be known and my mum Maura, heading the family.
Unfortunately, my father passed away a few years back and my mother also sadly passed away recently after being a resident of Highfield Healthcare and being in the late stages of Alzheimer’s.
Background
David, or 'Chesty’ as he was known to his mates was six years older than me, so from my perspective there was no getting away from the fact that he would always be the big brother and we were very much like chalk and cheese. David was football mad, and this is where he got the nickname ‘Chesty’ from, as I’m sure he was happier having a shirt covered in mud than having a dirty ball mess his mane of dark hair. From memory I believe he was a Chelsea supporter, as I remember having one of his tops handed down to me. Unfortunately, I was useless at football and left that reputation in David’s hands.
David, like most teens was a challenge and my mum wasn’t afraid to give him a clip around the ear when needed. Whilst he may not have been an angel, his heart was in the right place. As the younger brother we didn’t always get on, but he was always there for me if needed. He did drive my parents round the bend, but what teenager doesn’t.
I’ll always remember when he convinced me that our parents had gone out and we could go downstairs and watch late TV, only to get to the kitchen to see my mum in the living room. He quickly told me to hide under the kitchen table, said goodnight to my mum and proceeded to go back to bed leaving me hiding there until she eventually heard me and sent me to bed, which of course cracked David up as he once again created mischief.
It was the 70’s, and every kid his age was quicky becoming a rebel and, being a parent myself, nothing prepares you for the life of a teenager. My parents, especially my mum, pushed David to stay on at school to get a good education and job.
However, he had other ideas. Whilst David attended St. David’s CBS, all he wanted to do was leave and get a job, any job. He was suddenly starting to have an interest in clothes, music and girls and knew the only way he could have these was with a job as things were tight back then for my parents. Plus, he’d driven some of the teachers to their wit’s end and I’m sure some were glad to see the back of him when he did leave. If mobile phones existed, I’m sure they’d have had my mum on speed dial.
David was very sociable, and seemed to be well known, hopefully for all the right reasons, and this was always a benefit for me as everyone would know me as ‘Chesty’s’ little brother.
His first job as far as I can remember was helping the fruit & veg man who would come around. David loved this, and it gave him a sense of independence and some money in his pocket. It also gave him a chance to help support my mum.
Soon after he got a job with Superquinn in Coolock shopping centre. He excelled here, and quicky got onto a management training course. He was in his element. David was very outgoing, confident,
and charismatic. He went from strength to strength and very quickly began to realise his potential. He was popular with both the customers and his colleagues and quickly established a large friendship group. Having a few quid in his pocket suddenly opened-up new opportunities and a chance to do the things he wanted, one of which was going on holiday to Spain with his mates. This was a big deal, no more Butlin’s or leaky caravan’s, suddenly he could go abroad and actually get some sun!!
David was a huge ‘Bowie’ fan, and with his new job it allowed him to both style himself on his ‘hero’ but also collect the records, which I still have to this day. David loved the ladies; he was a handsome devil and knew it. He loved socialising, and the local pubs were his favourite watering holes where he’d happily meet his mates for a pint. I’m sure if he wasn’t saving to go on holiday, every penny was spent on clothes, records, socialising and of course cigarettes and Marathon bars, which he’d have me get for him on a Sunday morning as he was usually too hungover to get up before dinner.
It’s funny, as I write this I keep thinking of David as being older than he was. He’d left school at 16 and started working straight away. He’d found purpose and had started to mature into a wonderful young man and yet was still a ‘teen’. My parents were proud of him, they’d seem him ‘grow-up’ and I suppose it was a relief for my mum as well. I’m sure David had plans to eventually settle down, but again, he was only 19 when he died and had a whole life ahead of him.
I still remember him that night, getting ready and preening himself. I looked up to him and wanted to be as cool as he was. I wanted the clothes and the aftershave, even if it was Brute or Old Spice!!! I wanted to be able to stay out late. I wanted so much to be my big brother.
Stardust Fire
I’ll always remember the night my parents received news of a fire in the Stardust. I was woken by the sound of someone speaking downstairs. One of my brother’s friends had called at the house and informed my mum of what had happened. All I could hear was that there was a fire in the Stardust, David was seen, but remains missing and the panicked voice of my mum. I was too afraid to get up, to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what was going on… and I was probably hoping it was a bad dream.
My bed my next to the window and in the distance, I could hear the fire brigade engines. My parents were pacing the house, and I had no idea what was going on. I have no idea how much time passed or even if I fell back to sleep, but when I eventually got the nerve to leave my bed it was all over the news and I never saw my parents look as scared and worried as they did that morning.
David’s friends continued to call by the house to check if anything had developed as he was still identified as missing. He could even be in hospital. All I can remember is how busy the house became. My mum was in a state of worry/shock, my dad tried to be strong, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do or say. My parents basically shut-down that morning.
I have no idea of timelines, at some point, my parents had been contacted about identifying a body or at least identifying personal belongings. My brother wore a David’s star around his neck, and it was this item that was used to identify him. I’m sure my parents did everything they could to hold it together, but I could see the affect and impact it was having as the day/days progressed.
Unfortunately, it’s very difficult for me to recall much more information as I know my parents did everything to try and shield me from what was happening. I do remember how supportive everyone was. The house was busy, but deep down the trauma of what had happened would unfold.
I have no idea of the timeline from this point. It all became a blur. I was out of school I think for about 1-2 weeks… I have no memories of the funeral. However, when my father passed away, I
found all the cuttings my mum had saved, and it brought the whole thing back… I could see the traumatic effect it had on my parents just by their expressions. The turnout, not only for David’s funeral but for all the victims was testament to the impact this tragedy had on our community. I wish I could remember more about what happened, but it was so long ago I think the trauma has pushed it deep into my memory.
Since then
No parent ever wants to bury a child. We all try to be strong but no matter what, I don’t believe any parent will ever get over it. I know for a fact that the death of my brother destroyed my mum and of course my dad. Both tried to deal with it as best they could. Unfortunately, back then the support probably wasn’t what it’s like today.
The whole thing probably had an impact on me too, I just didn’t know it. I wanted to be strong for my parents, they wanted to be strong for me. My parents continued to do what they could for me, but I could see they had been seriously affected… I just didn’t understand it. I knew I no longer had a brother who would be there as I went through my teenage years… and as I got older, I really missed having a sibling I could chat to and reach out to when I couldn’t talk to my parents. I wanted a guardian who wasn’t a parent. I wanted a big brother.
We all deal with trauma differently, but back then we dealt with the situation as best could be. My mum, bless her, tried her best. My dad struggled… being a typical Irishman that meant bottling everything up inside, and I suppose that was my approach as well.
We would visit the grave every Sunday... I hated it… I didn’t understand, but deep down I wanted to support my parents. I believe it helped my parents, but in the long-term the overall impact, especially on my mum, was sad. She suffered from depression and I believe the trauma of what she went through was a catalyst for the impact it’s had on her health as she got older. My dad too never recovered either…he just lost interest and a pint was his way of trying to deal with it all.
When my father passed away, I looked at before and after photographs. It was noticeable that my parents had lost their ‘spark’. They were functioning, and that’s all. They kept a brave face for me but as I got older, I could see the change and they never recovered. My mum always wanted to move; she hated having to be reminded every time she went near the Artane Castle. We knew some of the other families, so the reminders were always there.
As I got older, I settled, eventually getting married and having my own children. I would have loved to have a brother they could call uncle or cousins for my own kids to know. I named my eldest after my brother, my son David is proud to carry his name and it helps me keep his memory alive.
As my parents got older, they had many health issues, especially my mum. Having a sibling to share concerns with would have been lovely, especially as my dad eventually suffered from depression and as I was UK-based this made things very difficult for me as I wanted him to be looked after. When he did pass away, I too believe I suffered from depression as I felt I wasn’t there enough for him and the struggles I had dealing with my mum’s Alzheimer’s and my dad’s spiralling health issues.
In the early days of my mum’s Alzheimer’s, I always worried that she would start asking where David was, or she would remember what happened and having to try and deal with it. I believe this too had a negative effect on my own well-being. You begin to question your own ability to care for your parents and having no siblings I just felt I’d let them down.
I always think of my brother, when I return to Dublin, I make every effort to visit the grave and have a chat… it’s not something that comes naturally… The funny thing is I never ‘celebrated’ Valentine’s Day, even to this day it’s doesn’t interest me… luckily, I have an understanding wife.
I wonder what he would be doing now. Would he have stayed in Ireland; would he have married? I’m sure my parents had the same thoughts. When Bowie died, the first thing I thought of was how David would have felt… would he have still been a fan!!
Conclusion
David, I miss you. We all miss you. We wish this tragic event never happened and our community did not have to experience something so terrible. You were 19!! My daughter is 19… she’s still a kid and so were you. You were my brother, my parents’ first-born, and you should still be here.
The fire and subsequent death of my brother destroyed my parents. However, I think the way the whole thing was just ‘pushed under the carpet’ was an insult to everyone who died and all those loved ones who were affected.
I just want someone to accept that what happened was a dreadful event that could have been avoided. I want the memory of everyone who died to be remember and honoured and hopefully for all the families affected to get some closure. We can’t change our past, but we should learn and learn to accept that the way this was handled was wrong and could have been avoided.
Thank you
