Relatives of the 48 people who died in the Stardust nightclub fire have welcomed the announcement that special jury provisions will be introduced for the upcoming inquest.
On Thursday, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee received Government approval to amend legislation that would allow an independent jury selection to take place for the upcoming inquest.
The legislation, which is intended to be passed before the summer recess, will allow the coroner to seek the assistance of the Courts Service in selecting a jury for the inquests into the fire.
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Jurors are currently selected for inquests by gardai, but campaigners had raised concerns about this due to the force’s involvement in the inquest.
The new legislation will also ensure that employers will continue to pay the wages of people summoned to serve on the Stardust inquests jury, similar to provisions for criminal and civil trial juries.
There were 48 people killed and over 200 people injured in a fire at the Stardust nightclub on 14 February 1981.
Speaking to Dublin Live, survivor Antoinette Keegan - who lost her sisters Mary, 19, and Martina, 16, in the Stardust fire - said that the families are very pleased to hear that jurors for the inquest will be compensated.
She said: "It's fantastic news. Senator Lynn Boylan and Darragh Mackin at Phoenix Law have been brilliant.
"The inquest should be starting in September and the new legislation should go before the Dail and Seanad before the summer recess.
"The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has given us everything we asked for, we want to sincerely thank her. People on the jury will be paid by their employers and we are absolutely thrilled, yesterday was a momentous day for the families."
Ms Keegan said that the inquest itself will be "very hard" for the families of the 48 people who died in the Stardust.
She said: "The hardest part has yet to come, the inquest will be very hard. We're hoping that there will be no more obstacles in our way."
Sinn Fein Senator Lynn Boylan, who proposed the Stardust Inquest Jury Bill back in February, said that knowing the inquest will be held before an independently selected jury would come as a "huge relief" to the families and their supporters.
She said: "During the debate on my Bill, the Minister acknowledged the concerns we outlined regarding jury selection and the importance of protection of jurors income given the length of time the inquest is expected to last for.
"I am delighted that she has finally acted on those concerns and that this legislation will be passed before the Summer recess.
"Hopefully, it will be the last obstacle for the families and the Stardust can begin without delay in the Autumn," she added.
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.
Read more: Stardust inquest jury selection bill to be debated in the Seanad
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