The Department of Justice says it will "carefully examine" any new evidence on the Stardust disaster amid pleas for a fresh inquiry into the blaze.
Next month marks the 25th anniversary of the tragedy when 48 people died at a St Valentine's Day disco. Greg O'Neill, a solicitor representing survivors and victims' families, claimed they have new information which casts doubt on the findings of a 1982 tribunal of inquiry into the fire. "We are satisfied that the material is there to show to any reasonable government, or any person with a modicum of sense, that these people were not dealt a fair deal over this calamitous event," said Mr O'Neill.
Moreover, he said, their research challenged the tribunal's claim that arson was the probable cause of the fire. "The evidential basis that led to that conclusion was between thin and non-existent."
In a statement yesterday, the department said it had held a number of meetings with victims' representatives, and just over 12 months ago received a report from them on "new evidence" in relation to the cause of the fire.
The department said this report was forwarded to the Garda Commissioner and the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination, both of whom stated that it contained no new evidence. "However, it was made clear to the delegation that any further submission they or their legal representatives might wish to make would be carefully examined in the department. "No further submission has been received to date."
Mr O'Neill said the Stardust Legal Challenge Committee hoped to be in a position to forward a fresh dossier to the department within four to six week.
While he had been instructed by his clients not to divulge full details of the "new evidence", he said it related to what caused the fire, how it spread so quickly, and how it happened that so many of those trapped had lost their lives.
"These people have never had closure. They have always felt there was something not fully right about how matters were dealt with at the time.
"Nobody has mentioned money," he added. "Not one person has mentioned money. What they want is to put the record straight. They want justice."
Meanwhile, RTÉ Television's head of programming Claire Duignan expressed regret yesterday for distress caused to survivors and their families who were not consulted about an upcoming drama on the disaster.
Ms Duignan said RTÉ could have made a better attempt to contact the relevant families. However, she did not believe anyone could have exercised a veto over the drama. "The reason we are making this programme is to remind people of the event," she said. "We want to open up public debate around the issues."
