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1981 nightclub fire survivors offered €20,000 compensation

On February 14, 1981, a total of 48 lives were lost and over 200 individuals were injured in the devastating Stardust fire that occurred on Valentine’s Day.

The Irish government has announced that survivors of the 1981 Dublin fire that claimed 48 lives will receive a payment of €20,000 (£17,400) each.

A black and white photo of a firefighter in the burned out wreckage of the Stardust nightclub in Dublin in 1981.  He is wearing a bright-coloured helmet and a protective uniform. The roof, walls and floor of the building have all sustained extensive fire and smoke damage. The remains of damaged tables and chairs are strewn around the floor.
A firefighter surveys the damage after the Stardust nightclub fire in Dublin which led to 48 deaths on Valentine's night in 1981

The Stardust nightclub fire in Artane, north Dublin, on Valentine's night in 1981, resulted in over 200 injuries, in addition to the fatalities.

This Saturday marks the 45th anniversary of Ireland's deadliest fire disaster, which occurred at the Stardust nightclub.

The payments will be made to those who previously received compensation from the Stardust Victims Compensation Tribunal, established after the fire.

While the majority of the fire's victims were from the north Dublin area, three young people from Northern Ireland – Robert Hillick and James Millar from Belfast, and Susan Morgan from Londonderry – also lost their lives.

A recent inquest into the fire, concluded in 2024, determined that the 48 victims were unlawfully killed.

An electrical fault sparked the fire, and the fact that emergency exits were obstructed or locked prevented many from escaping in time.

The inquest also found that the emergency lighting system's failure and staff's lack of preparedness contributed to the tragedy.

The Irish government has established a €24m (£20.5m) redress scheme for victims of the fire.

Under the scheme's first phase, the families of the deceased will receive €500,000 (£428,200) in compensation for each victim.

Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan announced the scheme's second phase on Tuesday, which will provide payments to those who received compensation from the original tribunal.

A composite image of archive photos of Susan Morgan, Robert Hillick and James Millar.  Susan has short, dark hair with a fringe. Robert has brown curly hair and is wearing a checked shirt.  James has dark brown hair, parted at his fringe and is wearing a bright yellow t-shirt.   All three of them are smiling.
Susan Morgan, Robert Hillick and James Millar, who were from Northern Ireland, were among 48 people who perished in the blaze

According to Minister O'Callaghan, this move fulfils the government's commitment to a two-phased approach to providing redress for the Stardust fire.

Minister O'Callaghan stated that the first phase of the redress, which provided payments to the families of the deceased, was completed in August of the previous year.

The second phase, announced on Tuesday, will provide ex gratia payments to all survivors who received compensation from the original Stardust Victims Compensation Tribunal.

The payment is intended to acknowledge the delays in delivering truth and justice to the victims and their families.

Minister O'Callaghan emphasized that the scheme will be designed to be accessible without the need for legal representation.

A black and white aerial shot of Stardust nightclub after the fatal fire.  The large, warehouse-like complex consists of several attached buildings with pitched roofs and a main entrance with a flat roof and large windows.  More than a third of the pitched roofs are badly burned, with damaged rafters visible.
An aerial view of the damage caused by the Stardust nightclub blaze

He expressed his determination to make the process as straightforward as possible, avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy and burdens of proof.

The scheme's goal is to provide a simple and accessible process for survivors, without requiring extensive legal assistance or placing a significant burden on them.

Minister O'Callaghan clarified that the payment is not meant to serve as compensation for the injuries and trauma suffered by the survivors, as that was addressed by the original tribunal, but rather as recognition of the delays in providing truth and justice.

In 2024, Taoiseach Simon Harris issued an official state apology to the families of the victims, who had campaigned for decades to receive acknowledgment and justice.

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Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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