Minister for Justice agrees to meet Creeslough families in Dublin

MINISTER FOR JUSTICE Jim O’Callaghan has agreed to meet with families of the victims of the Creeslough tragedy in Co Donegal.

The relatives of those killed and injured in the October 7, 2022 explosion, are seeking answers to a number of questions.

Some family members visited Government Buildings with their solicitors in 2023, a year on from the tragedy.

Donna Harper, who lost her 14-year-old daughter Leona in the blast, that the Minister’s office had reached out to them to arrange another meeting.

A delegation is to travel to Dublin in the coming weeks.

“This is what we have been pushing for and we are so delighted that the Minister has reached out and agreed to meet with us,” Ms Harper said.

“I was so delighted when I received the email from the Minister’s office.

“We don’t have all the details but the meeting will happen sooner rather than later and it will take place in Dublin.”

Ms Harper and her husband Hugh briefly met with Minister O’Callaghan when he visited Donegal in December.

He promised the couple a further meeting with them and others impacted by the tragedy.

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Amongst the topics expected to be discussed at the meeting is the Minister’s view on a possible public inquiry into the incident in which ten people lost their lives.

An update on the Garda investigation into the incident is also expected to be discussed.

Ms Harper said the families also have other questions which they would like to discuss with the Minister.

She added: “Other significant matters will also hopefully be discussed as so many people have so many questions of their own.

“We really appreciate that the Minister has taken the time to agree to meet with us and has recognised the fact that we cannot move on until we get some answers.”

Investigation before inquiry

A primary file was sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on 29 September 2025, and a second file is expected shortly.

Earlier this year, the Minister said his opinion was that the Garda investigation into the tragedy must be finalised before any public inquiry could take place.

He said: “Listen, my job is not to be sensitive; my job is to ensure that justice is delivered. I’m the Minister for Justice; I want to ensure that the families of Creeslough get justice.

“The only way justice can be provided to them is through the courts and we’re at a very advanced stage of the criminal investigation.

“There needs to be, and I hope there will be, criminal prosecutions in respect of what happened at Creeslough and that’s the mechanism to provide justice for the Creeslough families,” he said.

O’Callaghan added: “If, at the end of the process, there are answers that still need to be provided I’ll certainly consider an inquiry.”

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