Pen portrait of teenage Stardust victim read by Christy Moore at today's inquest

The pen portrait of teenage victim, Richard Bennett was read by Christy Moore at today’s inquest.

Written by the boy’s mother, Helen Shiels, and his sister Elaine, the emotion-filled words were read by Moore in the coroner’s court today.

Ms Shiels had requested that the singer, who has been a long-time supporter of the Stardust victims’ families, deliver the testimony she wrote.

The mother of the late teen wrote in her testimony that losing her son was the worst thing imaginable, particularly given the tragic and public circumstances of his passing.

The court today heard how Richard was very mature for his age, and how he became the main breadwinner of the household following the dissolution of his mother’s first marriage.

Her beloved 17-year-old was described as having stepped into a father figure role to his younger brother and sister, and as someone who enjoyed hobbies like music and horses.

Richard was described that day as being “so excited” to go to the Valentine’s dance contest that night, as the court was told the teenager was initially refused entry as he was not wearing a tie, but was eventually let into the premises after he was given one by one of the lads handing them out at the back door.

The court heard how the morning after the fire, her husband Bill made his way into the Stardust. Helen Shiels said what he saw never left him.

She spoke of their search for Richard’s body, how after weeks of looking for weeks in the city’s hospitals and morgues they came across a body presumed to be her son’s.

RTÉ reported that Ms Shiels stated in the court, "It was then that he became one of the unidentified. 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," she said.

The inquest was also told that Ricard’s body remained unidentified for 25 years while Bennett’s mother wrote to Bertie Ahern “to try and get the bodies properly identified".

RTÉ also reported that Helen Shiels recalled how for years, she had stood at the foot of another victim, Michael French’s grave.

"For years he lay in an unmarked grave and was known as one of the unidentified."

Describing the devastating effect news of her son’s passing had on her, Ms Shiel’s stated that all families of the victims should have been offered emergency counselling to help cope with their unimaginable losses.

In her testimony, she reinstated that justice needed to be served now after families still waiting 40 years on.

RTÉ News caught up with Christy Moore outside the court, who described how moved he was having to read the words of Richard Bennett's mother, recalling his young life.

Apart from the terrible loss and suffering the families have endured, the 77-year-old musician highlighted the appalling treatment of them over the past 40 years.