The families of those who died in the Creeslough explosion are renewing their calls for a public inquiry as the village marks the second anniversary of the tragedy today, Monday, October 7.
Hundreds of people are expected to gather in the rural Donegal village today to pay homage to the ten men, women, and children who perished when a devastating blast ripped through the Applegreen service station on October 7, 2022.
More than 1,000 lines of inquiry and statements have been taken by gardaí since the tragedy, with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris announcing the investigation file is nearing completion.
A gas explosion in the adjacent apartment building is believed to have caused the service station to collapse.
A total of four people – three men and a woman – were arrested in connection with the incident and subsequently released without charge, with a file being prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Large crowds are expected to fill St. Michael’s Church in Creeslough at 7:30 pm this evening, with prayers offered by Parish Priest Fr John Joe Duffy.
However, many of those directly impacted by the tragedy are demanding answers as to why their loved ones were killed.
They are also deeply critical of plans to build a new service station at the explosion site.
A number of families have written to Justice Minister Helen McEntee, calling for a public inquiry to run in conjunction with the garda investigation.
In response, Ms. McEntee said last week the investigation must be allowed to take its course, but said the Government was open to examine other ways in which the families could get "absolutely everything that they need."
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris also confirmed that an independent investigation is ongoing.
Among those involved in the investigation include gas explosion experts from the UK and other specialists from countries within the EU.
"The purpose of submitting a file to the DPP is for the purpose of, is there criminal liability. And in that case, then there will be an exposure of the evidence in the criminal justice process," Mr. Harris said, adding the file for the DPP is "nearing completion."
Ann Marie Boyle, whose sister Catherine O’Donnell and nephew James Monaghan were killed in the blast, said she cannot wait years like the Stardust families to know the truth.
"There are no answers. Nobody is giving us answers. We understand the Stardust families had to wait years and years later before they got the proper answers.
"We don’t want it to be years and years later to get answers about how our ten family members died," she said.
In the days leading up to the second anniversary of the tragedy, the developer of the proposed new petrol station has provided the additional information Donegal County Council needed to proceed with their decision. Earlier this year, bereaved families and local residents submitted objections to a planning application that would see the former Applegreen petrol station redeveloped by Vivo Shell Limited.
The new service station will include a shop, post office, accessible toilets and a forecourt. It will also feature a small memorial garden and an artistic structure dedicated to the ten victims’ memory.
In addition to calling for a public inquiry, Ms. Ann Marie Boyle said the new development plans were just "like trampling all over us."
Speaking to Donegal Live last week, she said: "Here we are, a few days before the anniversary and it’s all over us again. They are stating that they want to demolish the existing building and to basically rebuild what was there.
"All of the requests of the bereaved families have been denied and people think that it is acceptable to build another commercial unit here and have some kind of memorial beside it?
"No compassion, no empathy, no nothing. I can’t comprehend that any individual thinks that this is okay. If they were sincere about a memorial garden, they wouldn’t build a commercial unit again.
"I just cannot fathom how this could happen here. If there are to be commercial units rebuilt then it shouldn’t be on this site."
Throughout the day, the community of Creeslough and beyond will remember: Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Jessica Gallagher; Martin McGill; James O’Flaherty; Martina Martin; Hugh Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
Fr John Joe Duffy has said that the bell of St. Michael’s Church will ring in solemn memory of the victims at exactly 3:17 pm on Monday.
"St. Michael’s Church invites everyone to join with us in remembering and praying for those that are bereaved and impacted by this tragedy."
"The journey of healing will continue and we remain strong for one another," he said.
October 7, 2023: Father John Joe Duffy at the first anniversary of the Creeslough tragedy. (RollingNews.ie)
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris has paid tribute to the victims of the tragedy, describing the day as "one of the darkest days for our country."
He said: "My thoughts are with the Creeslough community today, particularly those who were injured in the devastating explosion and the families and friends of the 10 people who lost their lives.
"The people of Donegal and indeed the entire country will never forget the shock and sadness that emerged on what can only be described as one of the darkest days for our country."
The Fine Gael leader added: "We also remember the rescue workers responding that day and in the aftermath and the whole community coming together to support each other.
"The second anniversary today serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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