Group    To 16/8/1980

37 victims of the Denmark Place arson attack

Categories: Tragedy

Countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Libya, Mauritius, Scotland, Spain

Group

See Denmark Place arson attack for information about the venue and the event.

It is thought more than 150 people were inside the building when the attack happened. 37 died and 23 were injured. 

The dead were: 19 British people, 10 Columbians, 4 Spaniards, 1 Bolivian, 1 Libyan, 1 Mauritian Islander, 1 man from an atoll in the South Pacific. Many of them were women and one was pregnant. This list of names is from a 2015 article in The Independent newspaper:

Sylvia Aguire, Alvaro Barrios, Pamela Bough, Beiddredin Bulati, Archibald O'Donnell Campbell, 63, Leonard Carroll, Diana Coward, 18, Clancy Dcedaran Maria Dick, Peter Alan Dolan, Paul Fiorilo, Jose Franco, Carol Gorey, Maria Gumiel, Theresa Gumiel, Denise Henaghan, Christina Isherwood, Luz Mary Londono, Avril McDermot, Diana McIlvaney, Gloria Munoz, Anita Murray, Antonio Navaro, Bridget Norton, Julian Ortegon-Garces, Segg Putahu, William Ramsey, Alexander Reid, Juan Antonio Sagasta-Juldain, Edgar Smith, Carlos Alberto Soto, Robert Sirton, Eustace Ralph Taylor-Harding, Plutarco Alejandro Vargas Bernett, 32, Hernan Vargas, Beatrice Vargas-Corrales, Frederick Yule.

The writer of the Independent article, Simon Usborne, stated "There may be spelling errors". This would seem to be very true. Our colleague, Andrew Behan has researched the names. If the plaque had listed the names of the dead we would have created a page for each one. As it is we have provided all the information here, on this page.

With the exception of Archibald O'Donnell Campbell, all the deaths were registered in the 2nd quarter of 1981 in the England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index and are shown in the Camden registration district, Greater London. We assume that the delay was to await the verdict of the cause of deaths at the Coroner's inquest which could not take place until after the trial of John Thompson in May 1981 for the murder of Archibald Campbell. The spelling of most of the names differs from that in the Independent list. For all the dates of birth are given so we are able to derive their ages at the time of their deaths on 16 August 1980.

Sylvia Aguirre: The death registration gives her date of birth as 5 May 1948. She was aged 32 years. According to the Deceased Online website she was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Alvaro Barrios: The death registration gives his name as Alvaro Grajales Barrios and his date of birth as 7 August 1953. He was aged 27 years.

Pamela Bough: The death registration gives her name as Pamela Ann Bough and her date of birth as 11 November 1962. She was aged 17 years. The Deceased Online website shows that she was buried on 8 September 1980 in the London Borough of Havering. Her birth had been registered in the 4th quarter of 1962 in the Islington registration district, London and her mother's maiden name was Sanders. Probate records show her address to have been 120 Rainham Road, Rainham, RM13 7RH and that when administration was granted on 22 September 1981 her effects totalled £331.

El Bulati Badereddin: The death registration only shows him as being born in October 1940. He was aged 39 years.

Archibald Campbell: The death registration gives his name as Archibald O'Donnell Campbell but, exceptionally, in the 4th quarter of 1980 and it only shows him as being born in March 1917. He was aged 63 years. The Deceased Online website shows that he was cremated on 15 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Leonard Carroll: The death registration gives his date of birth as 5 July 1955, the fourth of the eight children of Michael J. Carroll (1925-1991) and Josephine Mary Carroll née Fraher (1926-1993). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1955 in the Hackney registration district, London. His seven siblings were: Michael J. Carroll (b.1949); John T. Carroll (b.1950); Patricia Carroll (b.1954); Marylyn Carroll (b.1957); Kathleen M. Carroll (b.1958); Eileen E. Carroll (b.1960) and Johanna E. Carroll (b.1962). He was aged 25 years when he died. An image of this man is available on the ancestry.co.uk website.

Diana Coward: The death registration gives her name as Diana Carol N. Coward and her date of birth as 2 December 1961. She was aged 18 years. Her birth had been registered in the 4th quarter of 1961 in the Greenwich registration district, London and her mother's maiden name was Powell.

Clancy Deederan: The death registration gives his name as Clancy Rene Deederan and his date of birth as 24 October 1945. He was aged 45 years. The Deceased Online website shows that he was buried on 10 September 1980 in the London Borough of Camden.

Maria Dick: The death registration gives her name as Maria Patricia Dick and her date of birth as 5 August 1958. She was aged 22 years.

Peter Dolan: The death registration gives his name as Peter Alan Dolan and his date of birth as 26 January 1953, his birth being registered in the 1st quarter of 1953 in the Lewisham registration district, London. He married Teresa E. Johnson (b.1953) in the 2nd quarter of 1972 in the Brent registration district and they had two children: Tara Anne Dolan (b.1973) and Ryan Shane Dolan (b.1974). He died, aged 27 years and the Deceased Online website shows that he was buried on 15 September 1980 in the London Borough of Camden. Probate records confirm that his address had been 17 Chatsworth Road, London, NW2 and that when administration was granted on 22 October 1980 his effects totalled £33,073.

Paul Munguia: The death registration gives his name as Paul Fiorilo Munguia and his date of birth as 26 August 1946. He was aged 33 years. The Deceased Online website shows him as Raul Fiorilo Munguia and that he was cremated on 17 September 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Jose Ventureira: The death registration gives his name as Jose Franco Ventureira and his date of birth as 10 March 1955. He was aged 25 years. The Deceased Online website shows him as Jose Franca Ventureira and that he was cremated on 23 September 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Carol Gorey: The death registration gives her date of birth as 31 December 1953. She was aged 26 years when she died. According to the Deceased Online website she was buried on 19 September 1980 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Maria Gumiel: The death registration gives her name as Maria Guillerma Gumiel and her date of birth as 30 January 1958. She was aged 22 years. According to the Deceased Online website she was buried on 10 November 1980 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 

Teresa Gumiel: The death registration gives her date of birth as 5 April 1936. She was aged 44 years. According to the Deceased Online website she was buried on 10 November 1980 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Denise Henaghan: The death registration gives her name as Denise Elizabeth Henaghan and her date of birth as 16 March 1957. She was a daughter of John Henaghan and Janet Grieve Henaghan née Briggs (1929-1992) and she was born in Dumfries, Scotland. She was aged 23 years when she died. An image of this lady is available on the ancestry.co.uk website.

Christina Isherwood: The death registration gives her name as Christina Anne Isherwood and her date of birth as 19 May 1953. She was the younger child of Harry Isherwood (1920-1964) and Mavis M. Isherwood née Andrews (1927-1979). Her elder brother was Davis Andrew Isherwood (1951-2022). She married Nicholas W. Collins in the 3rd quarter of 1978 in the Lambeth registration district, Greater London. Probate records confirm that her address had been 666 Holloway Road, London, N7 and it was not until 6 February 1987 that administration was granted and her effects totalled £20,767.

Luz Londono: The death registration gives her name as Luz Marie Londono and her date of birth as 22 January 1956. She was aged 24 years. According to the Deceased Online website she was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Avril McDermott: The death registration gives her date of birth as 9 April 1941. She was aged 39 years.

Diane McIlvanney: The death registration gives her date of birth as 12 October 1957. She was aged 22 years.

Gloria Patino: The death registration gives her name as Gloria Elsy M. Patino and her date of birth as 16 November 1955. She was aged 24 years. The Deceased Online website shows her as Gloria Elsy Munoz Patino and that she was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Anita Murray / Anita Whittingham: Her death was registered as both Anita June Murray and Anita June Whittingham and her date of birth was 8 January 1956. She was aged 24 years. She was born as Anita June Murray and married Mark Whittingham in the 4th quarter of 1975 in the Burnley and Pendle registration district, Lancashire. The Deceased Online website shows her as Anita June Murray (Aka Whittingham) and that she was cremated on 13 November 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Antonio Navarro: The death registration gives his date of birth as 7 February 1953. He was aged 27 years. According to the Deceased Online website he was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington. 

Bridget Cox / Bridget Norton: Her death was registered as both Bridget Elizabeth Cox and Bridget Elizabeth Norton and her date of birth was 4 August 1952. She was aged 28 years. The Deceased Online website shows her as Bridget Elizabeth Cox (Aka Norton) and that she was cremated on 30 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Julian Garces: The death registration gives his name as Julian Ortegon Garces and his date of birth as 5 December 1946. He was aged 33 years. According to the Deceased Online website he was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Segg Putahu: While the death was registered in that name, their date of birth was shown as 17 September 1954 showing that this person was aged 25 years.

William Ramsey: The death registration gives his date of birth as 3 February 1945. He was aged 35 years.

Alexander Reid: The death registration gives his name as Alexander Smith Reid and his date of birth as 29 January 1953. He was aged 27 years.

Juan Juldain: The death registration gives his name as Juan Antonio S. Juldain and his date of birth as 26 December 1952. He was aged 27 years.

Edgar Smith: The death registration gives his name as Edgar Mortimer Smith and his date of birth as 11 January 1932. He was aged 48 years. The Find a Grave website shows that he was buried in Plot 10 E/s in Acton Cemetery, 308 Park Royal Road, London, W3 6XA.

Aberto Suarez: The death registration gives his name as Aberto Soto Suarez and his date of birth was 2 August 1956. He was aged 24 years.

Robert Stirton: The death registration gives his name as Robert Gibson Stirton and his date of birth was 13 October 1950. He was aged 29 years. According to the Deceased Online website he was cremated on 18 September 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Eustace Taylor-Harding: He was born on 2 July 1951, the son of John K. Taylor-Harding (b.1930) and Regina K. Taylor-Harding née Williams (b.1930). His birth was registered as Eustace R. A. Taylor-Harding in the 3rd quarter of 1951 in the Battersea registration district, London. Electoral registers from 1951 to 1960 show his parents listed at 93 Surrey Lane, London, SW11 and from 1962 to 1965 his mother was listed at 63 Stonhouse Street, London, SW4. His death was recorded as Eustace Ralph Taylor-Harding and he was aged 29 years. According to the Deceased Online website he was cremated on 4 September 1980 in the London Borough of Southwark. Probate records confirm that his address had been 31 Sparkford House, Somerset Estate, Battersea Church Road, London, SW11 and that when administration of his estate was granted on 16 October 1980 his effects totalled £2,076.

Plutarco Vargas: The death registration gives his name as Plutarco Alsjandro Vargas and he was aged 31 years. He was born on 2 February 1949 and as Plutarco A Vargas Bernett he was recorded as marrying Doris Frauckiger in the 3rd quarter of 1977 in the Islington registration district. According to the Deceased Online website he was shown as Plutarco Alejandro Vargas and that he was cremated on 9 September 1980 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Hernan Vargas: The death registration gives his name as Hernan Vargas Jaramillo and his date of birth was 26 January 1958. He was aged 22 years. According to the Deceased Online website he was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Beatriz Corrales: The death registration gives her name as Beatriz Ampro V. Corrales and her date of birth as 22 August 1952.  She was aged 27 years. According to the Deceased Online website she was shown as Beatriz Amparo Vargas and she was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

Frederick Yule: His death was registered as such and he was born on 16 October 1951. He was aged 28 years. According to the Deceased Online website he was cremated on 7 October 1980 in the London Borough of Islington.

We wonder if the confusion about their correct names is the reason that just a generic plaque was provided by the developers of the site. We also hope that in publishing this information we help to keep alive the memory of these people and not perpetuate the incorrect names shown on various websites that all seem to repeat what The Independent newspaper erroneously produced in 2015.

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