Stardust relatives will appeal to Europe if evidence is rejected

The Stardust Victims' Committee is to lodge an appeal in the European courts under the Convention on Human Rights in the event…

The Stardust Victims' Committee is to lodge an appeal in the European courts under the Convention on Human Rights in the event that the Government rejects its new submission of evidence.

Following the recent presentation of evidence and pathologist reports, the committee yesterday indicated it is prepared to initiate proceedings against the Government if it fails to uphold the Convention on Human Rights and Article 40, Section 2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann.

A spokeswoman for the committee, Antoinette Keegan, added however, that sources close to the Taoiseach had indicated that they were treating the new submission as "very substantial" and "very significant".

The report, based on test-case studies of three of the fire victims, is expected to provide a new insight into how the 48 victims of the fire died on February 14th 25 years ago. Fire experts such as Prof Michael Delichatsios, Tony Gillick, Robin Knox and pathologist Dr Derek Carson contributed to the submission.

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After 25 years of campaigning for answers, Ms Keegan said the new body of evidence represented the "last stand of communication with the Taoiseach's office and the Department of Justice".

"We intend to fundraise once again to have our rights, which have been denied to us all these years. The ball is in the Taoiseach's court to sort this problem out on Irish soil and to save us energy in sourcing funds for this European challenge on human rights," said Ms Keegan.

The submission currently being considered by Government officials aims to establish how and where the fire started and to disprove the original tribunal findings, which returned a verdict of "probable arson".