Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan has accused the Minister for Justice of peddling “misinformation” about the recognition scheme for victims of the tragedy. 

On Valentine’s Day 1981, a fire broke out in the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, killing 48 young people and injuring hundreds more. 

However, it was only in 2024 that an inquest returned a verdict of “unlawful killing” in relation to those who died. 

Stardust families and supporters gather in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance after the verdict of unlawful killing. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.

Yesterday, Jim O’Callaghan announced a payment scheme had been approved which would “recognise the delays in providing truth and justice”. 

All those eligible for the payment will receive €20,000 from the State. 

A note published on the Department of Justice’s website said, “A total of 823 people received compensation from the tribunal that was established in 1985; therefore, the potential maximum cost of Phase Two is €16.4 million.”

On Newstalk Breakfast, Antoinette Keegan, who survived the fire but whose two sisters, Mary and Martina, died that night, said she does not recognise the Department’s figures. 

 “That statement that was given out by the Minister of Justice yesterday is misinformation,” she said. 

“He's making a statement there that there'd be €16.4 million being paid out. 

“That is totally wrong and I don't know who gave him that information because there weren’t 823 survivors in the Stardust. 

“So, that's a complete misinformation and it's giving the public the wrong information.” 

Government today approved Phase Two recognition payments for injured survivors of the Stardust fire. Each survivor will be eligible for a recognition payment of €20,000 and the scheme will be straightforward to access.

Read more: https://t.co/1XwH0kDH0w@OCallaghanJim pic.twitter.com/06NESSafgH

— Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (@DeptJusticeIRL) February 10, 2026

Ms Keegan continued that she believes the Department has mixed up the number of people who were in the Stardust nightclub with the number of relatives who received compensation in 1985. 

“841 people [were] in the building that night, 48 were killed, there were 214 seriously injured and there were 823 payments made in the Stardust victims' compensation, not for survivors,” she explained. 

“That was for mothers and brothers and sisters, right; compensation because their loved ones were killed. 

“Fathers were excluded because my father lost his case - men didn't ‘suffer grief’.” 

Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan, who lost her two sisters Mary and Martina, pictured after the 'unlawful killing' verdict was given at their inquest. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Ms Keegan added that she felt the announcement was just another of the many “insults” from Fianna Fáil that the families have endured since the tragedy. 

“[It’s] unbelievable, right?” she said. 

“And I have to give credit where credit is due to Simon Harris; he was compassionate, he listened to us and he addressed everything and did what the families of the deceased victims wanted. 

“There was a second phase that was agreed with Simon Harris and Helen McEntee, the then Minister and now they've completely done a U-turn on all of that.” 

Simon Harris with Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan. Picture by:Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie. 

Ms Keegan said Stardust survivors had been led to believe that each case would be individually assessed and that the Government had “gone against everything that they promised”. 

“The Minister of Justice has said this is what's called a ‘recognition payment’,” she said. 

“They're doing a recognition rate of payment for 45 years of people that have suffered trauma and making an offer of €20,000. 

“A lot of people have died, a lot of people have committed suicide because that night is a night that any survivor that was there will never, ever forget.

“And it's an insult what they've put on the table and it's not about money. 

“They haven't sat down and spoken to any, engaged with the survivors. 

“They've done it with the families of the deceased, and they haven't done it with the survivors.” 

The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment.

Main image: Split of Antoinette Keegan and Jim O'Callaghan. Pictures by: RollingNews.ie and Alamy.com.