The statement was the first time he had made remarks in public about The Station fire

06:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Former band manager Daniel Biechele, sentenced to four years in prison for setting off pyrotechnics that sparked the nation's fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in 2003, made his first public remarks about the blaze today in Providence Superior Court before being sentenced:

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

Dan Biechele breaks down after he read his statement to the court. He is surrounded by his lawyers left to right West warwick det. Roland Coutu, Peter DiBiase, Biechele, Tom Briody and John MacFayden.

"For three years, I've wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know that there's nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night.

"Since the fire, I have wanted to tell the victims and their families how truly sorry I am for what happened that night and the part that I had in it. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. I never imagined that anyone ever would be.

"I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to.

"I can only pray that they understand that I would do anything to undo what happened that night and give them back their loved ones.

"I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain.

"I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it.

"I am so sorry."

-- Provided by the Associated Press