The explosion on 7 October 2022 tore through a service station in Creeslough in north Donegal, killing ten people and injuring many more

Creeslough families to meet Minister for Justice

by · RTE.ie

Family members of the victims of the Creeslough tragedy will meet with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan this afternoon.

The relatives of the victims of the explosion which took place on 7 October 2022, are seeking answers from Minister O'Callaghan to a number of questions.

It is the first time the families of those killed and injured in the Donegal explosion will meet with the current minister for justice.

The explosion tore through a service station in Creeslough in north Donegal, killing ten people and injuring many more.

While a sudden gas leak is suspected to have caused the explosion, a garda investigation has yet to finish.

Almost four years on, and the families of those who died or were injured, say they still have questions and are calling for an inquiry into the tragedy.

Donna Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona died in the explosion, has welcomed the meeting and said she looks forward to talking with Minister O'Callaghan.

Damien Tansey, one solicitor representing the families, said the Government is the only authority that has the ability to inquire into what happened, and claimed that four years on, they are doing nothing.

Minister O'Callaghan has previously said the garda investigation into the tragedy must be finalised before any public inquiry could take place.

Ten people lost their lives in the Creeslough explosion in October 2022

"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 minister said earlier this year.

"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.

"If, at the end of the process, there are answers that still need to be provided, I’ll certainly consider an inquiry," he added.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at noon.