The families of the victims of the devastating Creeslough explosion have taken a significant step towards seeking justice by launching civil proceedings against the operators and owners of the Applegreen service station, as well as the management company for the adjoining apartments. The blast, which occurred on October 7, 2022, claimed the lives of 10 people, including four men, three women, two teenagers, and a five-year-old girl.
Darragh Mackin, a solicitor representing 11 individuals in the civil proceedings, expressed frustration over the delay in initiating an independent inquiry into the tragedy. “Given the delay in the state initiating an independent inquiry along the lines the families have asked, our clients have no alternative but to pursue all available legal remedies to access the truth and the answers they so deserve,” he said. Mackin further emphasized that it is “abhorrent” that the families are forced to take legal action to get justice for their loved ones.
The defendants in the case include Applegreen Ltd, Donegal County Council, Vivo Shell Ltd, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, and Duntally Woods Apartment Owners Management Company. The families are seeking compensation for personal injury, loss, and suffering arising from the tragedy.
The Creeslough explosion was one of the deadliest incidents in County Donegal in decades, leaving a profound impact on the community. The victims were 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.
In November 2024, Donegal County Council passed a motion calling for a public inquiry into the explosion. Cllr Frank McBrearty Jr, who proposed the motion, emphasized the importance of an independent statutory judicial public inquiry with open terms of reference. “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” he said, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. McBrearty also highlighted the need for the inquiry to be independent and have open terms of reference to ensure that the families get the truth and justice they deserve.
The call for a public inquiry into the Creeslough explosion has been echoed by many, including the families of the victims. They believe that such an inquiry would provide answers to the many unanswered questions surrounding the tragedy and help to bring closure to the families. As Cllr McBrearty said, “The truth and nothing but the truth is the only thing that will set these families free from their pain and suffering they are enduring every day without their loved ones.”
The outcome of this civil case may provide some sense of justice and accountability for the victims and their families. However, the path to healing and closure will likely be long and challenging for those affected by this tragedy.