By Róise Collins
MEMBERS of Donegal County Council have passed a motion calling for the establishment of an Independent Statutory Judicial Public Inquiry into the Creeslough explosion.
The motion, which received unanimous support, was tabled by Cllr Frank McBrearty and seconded by Cllr Thomas Séan Devine.
Ten people died in the explosion in Creeslough on October 7, 2022.
At Monday’s council meeting at County House, Lifford, members of a number of the bereaved families and some of those injured in the explosion were present in the council chamber.
In his statement to the council, Cllr Frank McBrearty said that an Independent Statutory Judicial Public Inquiry is the only way these families will ever get any justice.
He insisted that the inquiry must be called in the first 100 days by the incoming government.
“Why did this happen and who is to blame, that is two of the most important questions that must be answered by the state,” he said.
“Only a public inquiry can deliver this.”
Cllr Martin Farren described the motion as one of the most important motions that will ever come into the council chamber.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said that the inquiry would not impact the ongoing Garda investigation.
“The commissioner himself said that he felt that the public inquiry wouldn’t impact on the Garda investigation and that the Garda investigation could continue.
“So there is no reason why a public inquiry shouldn’t be initiated.”