Relatives of some of the 48 young people killed in the St. Valentine's Night Stardust Club inferno in 1981 have spoken of the heartbreak of hearing the events of the tragic night recalled in a courtroom for the first time in 27 years.

An examiner appointed by the government this week begun private hearings to establish whether there are grounds to open a new public tribunal into the blaze at the North Dublin venue.

The families have always rejected the findings of the original inquiry shortly after the blaze which ruled it was probably caused by arson.

The relatives maintained that didn't tally with evidence they claimed to have of a "considerable fuel load" near the roof space of the premises. They believe the cause of and rapid spread of the fire was overlooked at the original tribunal.

Greg O'Neill, solicitor for the families of the victims, said evidence of molten material dropping from the roof on to people had never tallied with the claim of the deliberate setting on fire of seats.

The families fought for nearly three decades for a new probe.

The appointment of an examiner to decide in private if there should be a full public hearing was a compromise.

Relatives who attended the first day of the hearing behind closed doors on Monday said it was an emotional experience.

Antoinette Keegan, whose sisters Mary and Martina were killed in the fire, said pictures of the scene after the killer inferno were shown. "It was a very upsetting day. It brought back a lot of bad memories about that happened on that terrible night," she said.

"I was in a daze for most of it. It was the first time in 27 years that we have been in a court room and I couldn't believe it was actually happening. It was quite an emotional day for everyone."

Eugene Kelly, who lost his 17-year-old brother Robert, said, "It's very hard to keep going through this. The politicians have a lot to answer for. It's a disgrace how we have been treated down the years. It wouldn't have happened if it was one of theirs. There has been a cover-up."

Leading pathology and forensic experts will outline their beliefs before the examiner, lawyer Paul Coffey.O'Neill, solicitor for the families, said he was confident new evidence would "fully displace" the finding of the 1981 tribunal. O'Neill stressed the families want a public inquiry with clear and focused terms of reference to address the issues raised by them in a speedy and cost-effective way.

They were not seeking "a blank check" but justice and closure and all of the issues to be addressed.

"This was the biggest atrocity in this country," he said. "We are talking about 48 young lives."