Over 500 apply to scheme to compensate Stardust survivors

Over 500 individuals have applied for the Stardust payment scheme established for survivors of the 1981 Artane nightclub fire, according to the Department of Justice. The scheme, launched in February, offers €20,000 to those who endured delays in receiving truth and justice. As of now, 540 applications have been received, with 169 validated and eligible for payment.

The department anticipates more applications to be validated, with the final number expected to rise in the coming weeks. Applications can be submitted until 5pm today; no submissions will be accepted afterward.

The scheme is open to all survivors who received payments from the 1985 Stardust Victims Compensation Tribunal, which awarded compensation to 823 people. The maximum potential cost of this financial package is €16.4 million. However, some survivors have expressed discontent, stating that the scheme was implemented without their input and that a flat rate payment contradicts promises made.

Jimmy Fitzpatrick, a survivor with severe burns, recently sought a judicial review of the scheme, with the matter set for court in November.

In 1981, a fire at the Artane nightclub claimed the lives of 48 individuals. In August 2024, €24 million was allocated for the families of the deceased, following verdicts from fresh inquests that confirmed all 48 victims were unlawfully killed. These decisions were the result of decades of advocacy by relatives. In February, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan unveiled the recognition payment scheme, clarifying that the payments were not intended as compensation for injuries, but rather for the delays in delivering justice.