Several families of those who died in the Creeslough explosion two years ago have met Ireland’s Justice Minister to press their case for a public inquiry. Four men, three women and three children, ranging in age from five to 59, died in the blast that ripped through the Co Donegal village’s Applegreen service station and a nearby apartment block on Friday October 7 2022. While Gardai continue to investigate the circumstances of the explosion, families of those who died have called for an inquiry into non-criminal factors of the blast.
The families met Helen McEntee at Government Buildings in Dublin as well as ministers Charlie McConalogue and Eamon Ryan. Speaking after the meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, the families said the engagement was “very successful”. Hugh Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona was killed in the explosion, said the three ministers “took on board all our concerns” and that he felt “a step closer” to the truth.
A solicitor involved in the campaign for an inquiry, Darragh Mackin, said: “The question these families ask themselves is, had this happened in Dublin would they be here two years later asking for an investigation? “The key point of today is this: the minister has not ruled anything out. We now look forward to a decision because the reality is this: time is of the essence. An election is pending and these families don’t have time to give, they want a decision and they want a decision now.
” Another solicitor inv.
