Stardust tragedy: Together they waited, five elderly mothers, seven dead children between them, counting down the minutes of a 43-year wait

Michael French’s elderly mother, a petite lady with tight curls in her hair, had been carefully wheeled into the Pillar Room by her daughter Caroline. Michael was so badly burned in the fire that he could not be officially identified until 25 years after his death. Next to Mrs French was Brigid McDermott, who lost three children, William, George and Marcella, in the horror that was the Stardust’s last disco. Mrs McDermott had made her way inside with the aid of a walking frame.