A heroic firefighter who fought the Stardust blaze in 1981 was laid to rest this week.
Paul Hand was one of the respondents at the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane on the night of 14 February 1981. Last week, the community was left in mourning after Paul died in St Francis Hospice in Raheny.
Dublin Fire Brigade issued a heartfelt tribute to the "enormously popular" firefighter following his funeral on Tuesday. A DFB spokesperson said: "Yesterday we said a final goodbye to retired Firefighter Paul Hand.
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"A guard of honour was formed at Kilbarrack Fire Station as the cortège passed. Paul was enormously popular and respected throughout the brigade and was the Curator of the Museum in our training centre."
Paul saved many lives at the nightclub blaze and was seen as a hero by the Stardust Victims Committee. Chairperson of the Stardust Victims Committee Antoinette Keegan told Dublin Live previously: “I’m deeply saddened and very emotional to hear the news... He was a hero in my eyes from then till now, and always will be. I became very, very close to Paul over the years and I’m saddened that he’s passed away.
"I'm saddened for losing a great friend, I’m also saddened for his family, for losing a great husband and a brilliant father. He’s a hero in everyone's eyes, he saved so many peoples lives that day.”
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