'Go and find him yourself' - Stardust manager Eamon Butterly lying low in wake of 'unlawful killing' verdict

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Stardust manager Eamon Butterly has been lying low since an inquest into the nightclub fire returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

Mr Butterly has spent many years since the tragedy living on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland.

The Irish Independent this week twice called to a property where he is known to spend time, but was told by a woman present "you can f**k off". There was no sign of Mr Butterly during the exchange.

He has made no public comment since Thursday on whether he accepts or will challenge the inquest ruling on the deaths of 48 young people on Valentine's Day 1981 at the Artane nightclub on Dublin's northside.

The 79-year-old has an address in Dublin, but it is understood that when in Ireland he mainly lives with his long-term partner in a cottage in an area of incredible natural beauty. He also spends part of the winter in Los Cristianos in Tenerife where he has property interests.

In Ireland, locals on the island have known Mr Butterly for many years, and at one point he regularly socialised in pubs in the town. Since he gave evidence at the Stardust inquest last year he has been seen less often. However, neighbours said they had seen him as recently as Wednesday.

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The Irish Independent initially called at the property on Thursday afternoon within one hour of the inquest verdict being delivered, to seek comment from Mr Butterly. A woman who answered denied she was his partner and said: "I am just renting here."

Upon calling to the property again yesterday, the same woman reacted angrily, saying: "You can f**k off."

Asked if we could reach Mr Butterly, she said: "Go and ask him. Go and find him yourself. It's nothing to do with me."

Asked whether the families of the Stardust victims deserved better from Mr Butterly, she said: "It's nothing to do with me. I'm not going to stand arguing at my premises, you can f**k off."

Mr Butterly also has an address in Malahide, Dublin, but there was no answer at his house yesterday where electronic gates control entry and exit, and a gate-mounted intercom is used.

CCTV is in operation at the house and there were no cars visible at the top of the long driveway while the downstairs blinds were drawn.

An original inquiry into the Stardust fire in 1981 ruled that the cause was probable arson.

Eamon and his father Patrick Butterly were awarded £581,000 in damages at a time when a three-bedroom home in Dublin cost around €35,000. The arson finding was overturned decades later and this week the inquest jury said the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Recently Mr Butterly made unsuccessful legal challenges to prevent a jury considering "unlawful killing" as a verdict. His legal team argued it could be highly prejudicial to him and that it would damage his reputation if blame could be attributed to him.

Following this week's verdict, Mr Butterly's solicitors were contacted for comment. However, no response was received at the time of going to press.

Efforts to contact Mr Butterly's partner through her business email address have also received no response.