THIS Wednesday will mark four years since ten people tragically lost their lives in the Creeslough tragedy.
At 3.17pm on October 7, 2022, an explosion at a service station in Creeslough ripped through the village.
Those who died in the explosion were Leona Harper (14); Robert Garwe (50) and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Catherine O’Donnell (39) and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Jessica Gallagher (24); Martin McGill (49); James O’Flaherty (48); Martina Martin (49); and Hugh “Hughie” Kelly (59).
A commemoration and prayer service are scheduled to commence at 3pm at the site of the explosion on Wednesday and local diversions will be in place in the area between 2.30pm and 3.40pm.
The commemoration service will be attended by families of the deceased, local clergy, local community representatives and members of the public.
“Our thoughts and prayers are very much with the Creeslough community this week,” said Garda Gráinne Doherty.
Four years on from the tragedy, the families and survivors of the tragedy are still facing an agonising wait for answers.
They have been urging the government to commence a full public inquiry into the circumstances of the tragedy in addition to the criminal investigation.
Ahead of the fourth anniversary, Hugh Harper, father of Leona Harper, said: “We do not have an issue with the criminal investigation. Me and my family support the criminal investigation. We understand the importance of it.”
He added: “The calls for the public inquiry are not to diminish or take away from the importance of the criminal investigation.”
A long-awaited file from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in August.
A primary investigation file had been sent to the DPP in September 2025, while a supplementary file was submitted by investigating gardaí in April 2026.
In addition, a file from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has also been submitted.
Those affected by the Creeslough tragedy brought their campaign for truth and answers to Dublin in July, where they met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Mr Martin told families that a public inquiry can be facilitated if the criminal investigation does not provide satisfactory answers.
Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan also met with the families, survivors, and legal representatives last April.
A minute’s silence was held for the victims of the Creeslough tragedy at last Monday’s plenary meeting of Donegal County Council.
Proposing the motion, 100% Redress Councillor Tomás Seán Devine said: “We should take a moment to reflect about the ten people who were killed and those who were injured and their families.”
The 10 people who lost their lives in the Creeslough tragedy.