The inquest into the deaths of the 48 people who died in the 1981 Stardust fire has resumed.
Last week saw the conclusion of the first phase of the inquest, in which relatives shared details of the lives of their loved ones with the jury, in the form of pen portraits.
Dr Myra Cullinane said the purpose of today's hearing was to address the members of the jury so that they could better understand their role in the inquest.
She said she would be formally opening the inquest today and a new phase was beginning which would include the hearing of evidence.
She began by reading aloud the names of all 48 victims and then outlined the factual historical evidence of the case.
This factual evidence went from the fire itself, all the way up to the direction by the Attorney General for fresh inquests.
The findings of the original inquests were confined to the approximate cause of death of the deceased, there was no reference to the surrounding circumstances.
She said the jury did not need to concern itself with any previous findings related to the fire.
She said an inquest was a fact finding exercise, it does not apportion blame and it was not a trial
"Your task is to hear all the evidence of the witnesses and reach conclusions based on this evidence," she said.
'Findings must focus on the identity of the deceased'
Dr Cullinane said the jury decides what evidence it accepts and which it does not; it would be making the findings and recording verdicts in accordance with the law.
These findings must focus on the identity of the deceased, and where, when and how their death occurred.
She said evidence would go beyond the medical cause of death and would focus on the circumstances of the death and how they contributed to that death.
She said nobody can be blamed or exonerated at an inquest, it could not decide criminal or civil liability.
Dr Cullinane also said a coroner's jury could also make recommendations aimed at avoided future deaths.
She said it was important for the jury to only focus on the evidence brought before it and should not be influenced by media coverage and should not discuss the inquests outside of the inquests.
Dr Cullinane said this was necessary if these were truly to be fresh inquests.
She then addressed the scope of the inquests.
Dr Cullinane said it was broader than that which might apply in other inquests.
She said tomorrow the jury would hear the undisputed background facts. There will be a presentation of the Stardust building, its location, structure - indoor and outdoor - the exits, the ventilation and heating systems, prior inspection of the buildings and ownership and management of the Stardust.
Dr Cullinane said witness evidence would be heard in relation to staff training and fire planning, matters in relation to how and where the fire started, how and why it progressed, what the response was in the Stardust to the fire and what was the response of the emergency services.
The jury would hear the medical cause of each death and contributory factors to it and would hear whether the building and its fixtures and fittings contributed to the fire.
Over 300 witnesses
She said there were over 300 witnesses to be heard.
Dr Cullinane said the first witnesses will be the staff and management of the Stardust, this will be followed by the largest group who were patrons of the Stardust or members of the public who were in the area.
Then third group of witnesses will be members of the emergency services who responded to the fire, and finally there will be expert witnesses in relation to matters like fire investigation and pathology.
She said witnesses would be questioned by the coroner's legal team, by interested parties and by the jury themselves.
Dr Cullinane said many original witnesses have died since the events occurred, or may be ill or unavailable - and if their evidence if deemed necessary, their statements will still be read into the record.
She said the jury will be given bundles containing relevant material like photographs or plans.
Dr Cullinane said the inquests are expected to run until the end of the year.
She said evidence would not commence today and she wanted to allow the jury to take in the information they had been given today.
Witness evidence will not begin until 7 June, she said.
She thanked them in advance for the important task they are going to undertake - particularly to the families, interested persons and the wider public.
