A man who was arrested as part of the criminal investigation into the 2022 explosion at a petrol station in Creeslough, County Donegal, which killed 10 people, has been released without charge.
On Thursday, the man (60s) was arrested in connection with alleged offenses contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Gardaí (Irish police) said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the investigation was ongoing.
In a statement, Gardaí said "The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough, Co. Donegal is ongoing, co-ordinated from Milford Garda station where an Incident Room has been established under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer.
"The investigation continues to be led by local Gardaí, in Donegal Division supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU)."
The explosion, on Oct 7, 2022, killed Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher; Celtic fan Martin McGill, James O’Flaherty from Sydney, shop worker Martina Martin; carpenter Hugh “Hughie” Kelly and Leona Harper aged 14.
The 10 victims of the Creeslough, 2022, explosion.
Since the tragedy, the police have been focusing on the gas system at the petrol station complex which includes an apartment block. There has been no suggestion that the system was tampered with however how it was run and maintained is in question.
This year three men and one woman have been arrested in relation to the explosion. All four were released and the police said a file would be sent to the DPP.
The Creeslough Family Support Group, representing around 40 people who have been directly affected by the explosion, met with Justice Minister Helen McEntee in late October 2023. The group spoke about their trauma and reiterated the families’ calls for an independent public inquiry.
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