Clerkenwell cinema fire

1994 Arson fire in London

Clerkenwell cinema fireDate| 26 February 1994

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Location| 7 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, United Kingdom
Coordinates| 51°31′12″N 0°06′07″W﻿ / ﻿51.52011°N 0.10194°W﻿ / 51.52011; -0.10194
Cause| Arson
Deaths| 11
Non-fatal injuries| 13
Convicted| David Lauwers
Convictions| Manslaughter (1995)
Sentence| Life imprisonment, 10 years minimum term

The Clerkenwell cinema fire occurred in the Dream City adult cinema (also known as the 'New City Cinema') at 7 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, United Kingdom, on 26 February 1994. The fire, caused by arson, killed 11 men.[1] Due to the pornographic nature of the films it screened, and the strict cinema licensing regulations in London at the time, the cinema was operating illegally, and thus was not subject to fire inspections as legal entertainment venues were.[2]

## Fire[edit]

The fire was caused by arson when a deaf, homeless man called David Lauwers (known to his friends as 'Deaf Dave') lost a fight with a doorman about needing to pay the entry fee again, having earlier left the club.[3] After being ejected from the cinema, Lauwers returned with a can of petrol and set fire to the entrance area. The fire took hold rapidly, trapping most of the staff and patrons within. Eight men died at the scene, seven from smoke inhalation and one from injuries sustained from jumping from a high window in the building, and there were three further fatalities in the following months in hospital,[4] as well as thirteen injuries.

## Aftermath[edit]

On learning of the gravity of the situation, Lauwers handed himself in to Walthamstow police station.[5] At his trial at the Old Bailey in 1995, he was cleared of three representative charges of murder and was found guilty of manslaughter.[1] Lauwers was sentenced on 27 March 1995 to a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years.[1]

Lauwers died in prison from a heart attack on 26 February 2001. He was 41.[6]

## Documentary[edit]

In 2021, the Clerkenwell cinema fire was the subject of episode eight of the Real Manhunter documentary series.[7][8]

## See also[edit]

* Denmark Place fire

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Arsonist gets life for cinema fire which killed 11". The Herald. 28 March 1995. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
2. ^ "Porn cinemas licensed to thrill: Esther Oxford explores the seedy film". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
3. ^ "Jury told of row which led to 11 deaths in porn club blaze". Herald Scotland. 21 March 1995. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
4. ^ "Dream City Cinema Club". Retrieved 8 January 2016.
5. ^ "Man arrested over porn club deaths". The Independent. 1 March 1994. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
6. ^ Prison Deaths in England and Wales, 1978–2014
7. ^ The Dream City Cinema Fire, The Real Manhunter, 17 May 2021, retrieved 13 December 2023
8. ^ "The Real Manhunter". Revelation Films. Retrieved 13 December 2023.