THE FAMILIES of the Stardust victims discovered that the barrister appointed to investigate the 1981 fire had represented gardaí during the inquests held after the blaze just 24 hours before his inquiry began.
Last night, the families complained strongly about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's decision to appoint John Gallagher SC to carry out the examination, even though he had acted as junior counsel on the Garda legal team.
The discovery was made after the families and their representatives read transcripts of the inquests, and prompted a meeting of the Stardust Victims Committee on Monday evening.
Mr Gallagher, who worked for several years as the Mahon tribunal's lead lawyer, immediately acknowledged that he had represented gardaí at the time.
The Department of the Taoiseach did not explain how it could have appointed the highly-regarded barrister in such a sensitive matter, when such a conflict of interest existed.
He was chosen on April 13th, 2007, to undertake an external, independent examination of the report Nothing but the Truth submitted to the Government by the victims' committee.
The document from the families contains new reports from fire officers, and questions some of the findings of the inquiry headed by Mr Justice Ronan Keane after the St Valentine's Day fire.
Last night, Antoinette Keegan, of the victims' committee complained bitterly about the Taoiseach's handling of the case.
Ms keegan demanded an immediate meeting with the Taoiseach.
"I am not blaming John Gallagher. He may most likely not have been asked.
"I blame Bertie Ahern for appointing an eminent legal person when such a clear conflict of interest existed," she said last night.
The families have now withdrawn all co-operation with his work, and once more demanded a full public inquiry into the disaster at the dancehall, owned by the Butterly family.
A spokesperson for the Department of the Taoiseach said last night: "The Stardust Victims Committee, through their legal representative, have raised concerns regarding the work done by Mr John Gallagher SC at the inquest in to deaths at the Stardust.
" These were brought to attention on Tuesday and are being considered", the spokesman remarked.
