Events planned to mark second anniversary of Creeslough tragedy

By Kate Heaney

AS the families and friends of those who tragically died in the explosion in Creeslough two years ago mark the loss of their loved ones, Mass and a Prayer Service will be held in their memory in the coming days.

Parish Priest Fr John Joe Duffy, together with the families, are holding a special Mass on Saturday evening in St Michael’s Church at 7.30pm.

On Monday a prayer service will be held in the church at 7pm to remember the dead and the many people who were injured.

Those who died were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; James O’Flaherty, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Hugh Kelly, Martina Martin, and 14-year-old Leona Harper.

As the second anniversary approaches nine of the ten families have now come together to press the government for a public inquiry or separate investigation to that being carried out by gardaí, which to date has not reached any conclusions.

Darragh Mackin of Belfast based Human Rights Lawyers, Phoenix Law, this week told the Donegal News that the Irish government need to act now so that the families of the bereaved do not have to face a third anniversary without knowing the truth of how their loved ones died.

Mr Mackin pointed out that the Creeslough tragedy is the greatest loss of life in recent times.

“This not only requires engagement, it demands engagement. It is imperative that the Government not only listen to these families’ concerns, but act on these families’ concerns,” he said.

He explained that while many different investigations have been carried out into the cause of the fatal explosion families have not been provided with any reports or expert evidence at this stage.

“This is what makes the need for a separate and autonomous investigation essential.

“We are now at a crucial crossroads for these families. For two years, they have been left in an abyss, trying to navigate their own investigation into the truth of what occurred. The time is now for the Government to act to ensure that another anniversary does not come and pass without these families being provided with an independent and meaningful investigation into these events so that they can find the truth, and so that lessons can be learned,” he added.

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