Families of Stardust victims each receive 500,000 euros in compensation

The families of the 48 young people who died in the Stardust fire are to receive compensation of 500,000 euros (428,195 pounds) for each victim.

Irish cabinet ministers will sign a compensation program worth €24 million (£20.5 million) on Friday.

In April this year, an inquest found that the 48 young people had been unlawfully killed at the Stardust nightclub in Artane on Valentine's Day 1981.

While many of the fire victims came from the North Dublin area, three of the young people came from Northern Ireland: Robert Hillick and James Millar from Belfast and Susan Morgan from Derry.

The jury concluded that the fire had started in the hot press in the nightclub's main bar and had been caused by an electrical fault.

An initial finding from the first investigation into arson was rejected as unfounded.

Families of the victims fought for decades for justice and were vindicated this year with an official apology from the state by Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris.

Mr Harris said the young people had been vilified and their families dismissed because of their social standing and neglect.

The memo outlining the plan is due to be presented by Mr Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee, but the meeting will be held remotely as the Dáil is in recess and ministers are not in Dublin.

Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, who represented 47 of the 48 families affected, said the compensation “reflects the unprecedented miscarriage of justice that has befallen these families”.

“The loss these families have suffered is incalculable,” he added.

“However, these payments go a long way in supporting these families for all their tireless efforts and the investment of their lives that they have so courageously made over the past four decades.”

Mr Mackin said the payments were “the gateway to a new morning for the families affected by the fire”.