A new venue for the Stardust Inquest has been selected to take place at Dublin's Rotunda Hospital.
The contract for the current venue at Dublin's RDS, is due to expire this month and the Coroner's office has been liaising with the Office of Public Works with a view to securing a new appropriate venue.
The inquest into the blaze, which killed 48 young people on Valentine's Day in 1981, is tipped to be the longest and largest in the history of the state.
A letter from the Deputy General Secretary in the Department of Justice, Oonagh Buckley to Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane, and seen by the Dublin Live, confirmed that a number of venues were considered and one has now been secured, subject to finalization of the licence agreement.
"Accordingly, I can advise that the Pillar Room at the Rotunda Hospital, located at the end of O’Connell Street, in the heart of the city, has been secured to facilitate the Inquests," the letter reads.
The Pillar Room in the Rotunda has in the past been frequently used for conferences, receptions and other events.
"It is felt that this venue provides an appropriate setting and is of sufficient scale to accommodate the inquests. It is also centrally located, making it an easily accessible venue for the families and other participants," Ms Buckley added.
The fatal fire took place at the Artane nightclub in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 1981, claiming 48 lives and leaving hundreds injured.
Antoinette Keegan, who lost her sisters Mary, 19, and Martina, 16, told Dublin Live that the lack of clarity over a venue is "an insult to the 48 lives lost" and their families.
Last month, the Stardust families staged a number of protests outside the Department of Justice over delays into opening the long-awaited inquest.
Speaking to Dublin Live, survivor Antoinette Keegan said that the families have 'mixed emotions' about the new venue.
She said: "We have mixed emotions I suppose happy the venue is sorted now, but worried that we will not incur the same problems we did with the RDS in relation to the duration of time, that it won't be the case if the inquest is not finished we will be looking for another venue.
"But the other two issues outstanding need to seriously be resolved without anymore undue delay. 1. Selection of the jury and 2. payment for the jury."
Antoinette confirmed that the families are set to go to a preliminary hearing at the RDS this afternoon, with a candle lit vigil to remember their loved ones taking place on Sunday.
"We are also having a candle-lit vigil this Sunday at 11.30am at the site of the fire then at 1pm a candle-lit vigil opposite Artane Park.
"Christy Moore is going to be there and so is Charlie Bird. Everyone is welcome to come down to join us on Sunday to remember the 48."
Data released under a freedom of information request in September stated that the Department of Justice has spent €1.5m of the €8m allocated in total on the inquest, without one official inquest being heard.
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