At the Stardust inquest, the singer Christy Moore has delivered a pen portrait of teenage victim Richard Bennett.

The words spoken by him today in the coroner's court were written by Helen Shiels, Richard Bennett's mother, and his sister Elaine.

Helen Shiels requested the singer, who has been a long standing supporter of the Stardust families, to deliver the testimony today.

In her tribute, she said losing a son is the worst thing imaginable, especially under such tragic and public circumstances.

The inquest heard how Richard was very mature and the main breadwinner in the house after the break up his mother's first marriage.

She described how the 17-year-old, who loved music and horses, stepped into a father figure role to his younger brothers and sister.

One of jobs was installing fire extinguishers.

The inquest heard how Richard was "so excited" to go to the Stardust that night for the dance contest.

In her pen portrait, Helen Shiels described how Richard didn't have a tie on, so they wouldn't let him in, but heard after that one of the lads was handing ties back out the door and that Richard got one and that got him through.

On the morning after the fire, her husband Bill, got into the Stardust.

She said what he saw never left him.

She said that they had searched for weeks in the city's morgue and hospitals and eventually found out there was a body that was presumed to be Richard's.

"It was then that he became one of the unidentified," she said. "Part of me still hoped that he would walk through the door someday.

"For years that's how those children were spoke of in the media and in all correspondence, they lost their identity that night."

The inquest heard that Richard was unidentified for 25 years and that she "had to write and write to Bertie Ahern to try and get the bodies properly identified".

She said she had stood at the grave of another victim, Michael Ffrench and vice versa.

"For years he lay in an unmarked grave and was known as one of the unidentified," the Dublin District Coroner's Court heard.

Describing his death as so devastating and cruel, she said she remembered being told that Richard was face-down when he died, with one arm behind his back.

She said the families of the victims should have all been offered emergency counselling to help with their unimaginable loss.

In her testimony, she said it was heartbreaking to think that in 40 years, families were still searching for answers.

She said justice is needed now.

'The families have been treated appallingly'

Speaking outside the coroner's court afterwards, Christy Moore, said it was very moving to have read the words of Richard Bennett's mother, recalling his young life.

He said apart from the terrible loss of their loved ones, the families have been treated appallingly for the last 40 years.

He said their suffering has gone on and on.

The singer said maybe finally the healing process has begun and that when the inquest is over, maybe they can have some peace of mind and not have all the stigma that has been cast upon them over the last 40 years.

Read more: Stardust Inquest opens in Dublin

'He had grown into a fine young man'

The sister of Brian Hobbs, who died in the fire, told the inquest that their parents had been at the Stardust complex that night but did not know Brian was attending the dance.

Pat Dunne was delivering her pen portrait of her brother at the inquest today.

She described his successful catering career which was just beginning. She said he loved dancing and socialising and that he had grown into a fine young man.

On the night of the disaster, Brian's boss had given him time off at the last minute and he took a taxi to the Stardust. None of the family knew he was there, she said.

She told the inquest her parents had been in the complex that night. She said her Mam had remembered the smell and sight of smoke as they came out.

Pat Dunne said the following day changed their lives forever.

She said when her family saw a list of the victims on the RTÉ Nine o'clock News, her father just started to wail and scream, "NO! NO! NO!".

"Mam just stayed in stunned silence staring at the screen as the names scrolled down," she said.

She recalled the following days: "On Monday morning, I answered the door to Mr Haughey who called to see us. As I opened the door to him, he turned around and waved at all the press and TV crews; it was like a photo-shoot for him. My father was pleased to see him, but I had to get all my brothers out into the back garden, as there was plenty of muttering starting about why he was in in our home."

The dynamics of our lives and family would never been the same again, she said. "This manifested itself in alcohol abuse, mental health issues and, finally, early death for some."

She said many years later the family discovered that Brian had become a father. His girlfriend had become pregnant in 1979 and his son was born the following year. She said it had come too late for her parents to welcome a grandchild.

She ended her pen portrait by saying it was important for her to find a certain closure for all of my family. Some answers and, finally, justice, she said.

'A horrible nightmare'

The nephew of Eugene 'Hughie' Hogan, who died in the fire, has said families have been waiting four decades for justice.

Mark Hogan told the inquest his uncle had been due to move to Kerry for work, along with wife and two young daughters on 15 February, the day after the Stardust disaster.

After toasting his new start, he went to the Stardust with his wife Marie and his younger brother Bernard.

Marie and Bernard survived, but Eugene did not.

Three days later, his identity was confirmed by his belt and a tattoo.

In a pen portrait, written by the Hogan family, Mark Hogan described the intervening period as a "horrible nightmare we have all been living with for the last 40 years".

He said his uncle was slim and good looking who loved to dress sharp in the latest styles. He said he very social and had many friends.

"Hughie was robbed of his life, his wife suffered the loss of her husband. Andrea and Sonia were deprived of their loving, caring father," he said.

'He said goodbye and walked out the door'

The brother of 17-year-old Michael Griffiths who died in the blaze said his family was never the same afterwards.

Paul Griffith's 'pen portrait' was read aloud at the inquest today by Jimmy Fitzpatrick - a friend of Michael's and himself a survivor of the Stardust.

Paul said Michael's death was the first time he saw his mother truly grief stricken and the first time he saw his father cry.

He described his brother as a very happy outgoing person with a great love for family. He said he remembers when Michael got his first pay cheque. Instead of going out and spending it on himself, he took his family to the cinema.

"My last memory of Michael was after just celebrating our father's forty-third birthday... Michael went upstairs and came back down a little while later full of life ready for a night out in the Stardust night club for Valentine’s. He said goodbye and walked out the door."

Through his pen portrait, Paul said he remembers the morning after. He was woken up in the early hours with bangs on the front door. His sister, Jackie, who was also at the Stardust was there, her face blackened by smoke. She told of the fire and the fact that she couldn't find Michael.

They went to the morgue and had to identify him by a ring he was wearing.

He ended his tribute by saying, following the inquest, "Let’s hope the engraving on his headstone can truly mean Rest In Peace".

The inquest continues.