Latest news with #CoDonegal
Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Irish Times
Creeslough families denied opportunity to speak during appeal against plans to rebuild petrol station
Families of those killed and injured in the Creeslough tragedy in Co Donegal have been refused an opportunity to speak during an appeal against an application to rebuild the petrol station at the centre of the explosion. It follows a decision by An Bord Pleanála to rule out a request for an oral hearing in the case. The request was made to An Bord Pleanála by a number of objectors who were bereaved by the October 2022 tragedy. Ten people died following a huge explosion at the service station. The objectors include Áine Flanagan, who lost her partner Robert Garwe and five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Shauna Gallagher, sister of the late Jessica Gallagher; Derek Martin, husband of the late Martina Martin; and Caroline Lauder and MarieLouise Macleod, sisters of the late Martin McGill. READ MORE The group, represented by human rights lawyers Phoenix Law, had argued that the level of national interest and the complexities of legal issues raised against the development warranted a full public hearing. However, An Bord Pleanála decided to proceed with a written determination for the appeal and contacted Donegal County Council to inform it of the decision. The council then informed members of the bereaved families. Donegal County Council said An Bord Pleanála decided an oral hearing is not necessary as the appeal can be adequately handled through written procedures. Reacting to the decision, one bereaved family member said the voices of those left behind after the tragedy had once again been silenced. The woman, who asked not to be named, said, 'This is a disgrace. We are not being given a chance to outline our concerns in a proper manner. [ Creeslough: 'I can't get my head around how a site can be built on when there's a criminal investigation' Opens in new window ] 'Ten people have died and yet An Bord Pleanála do not think their lives or our hurt are important enough so we can be heard.' In an update provided to Donegal County Council, the board confirmed that the processing of the appeal will now continue, and the Donegal County Council Planning Department will be notified of the decision once it is made. The signatories of the Phoenix Law appeal claimed that the Donegal Planning Authority, by approving the application, breached human rights obligations by failing to allow families to participate fully in the decision. The Planning Authority maintained it followed all statutory requirements in its decision-making process and urged An Bord Pleanála to uphold the original grant of permission. The development will involve demolishing the existing building and erecting a new building which will include a shop, post office, beauty salon, fuel pumps and memorial features, including space for a memorial garden. Planning permission was granted in February. [ Families of Creeslough victims object to 'cruel, callous' plans for service station and memorial Opens in new window ] A number of families impacted by the tragedy have strongly objected to the building of a new business on the site where their loved ones lost their lives. In a separate appeal, objectors have argued that it is against public policy to rebuild a development where a mass tragedy has occurred. They stated that inquests into the deaths of the 10 victims have not yet been held, and that if the development proceeds it will result in the destruction of crucial evidence. 'Both the Stardust Nightclub and the Grenfell Tower were never rebuilt, and the explosion in Creeslough is akin to those tragedies,' the appeal said.
BreakingNews.ie
17 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Families of Creeslough tragedy victims outraged after being refused hearing
Families of those killed and injured in the Creeslough tragedy in Co Donegal have been refused an opportunity to speak during an appeal against an application to rebuild the petrol station at the centre of the tragedy. It follows a decision by An Bord Pleanála to rule out a request for an oral hearing in the case. Advertisement The request was made to An Bord Pleanála by a number of objectors who were bereaved by the October 2022 tragedy. Ten people died following a huge explosion at the service station in October 2022. The objectors include Aine Flanagan, who lost her partner Robert Garwe and five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Shauna Gallagher, sister of the late Jessica Gallagher; Derek Martin, husband of the late Martina Martin; and Caroline Lauder and MarieLouise Macleod, sisters of the late Martin McGill. The group, represented by human rights lawyers Phoenix Law, had argued that the level of national interest and the complexities of legal issues raised against the development warranted a full public hearing. Advertisement However, An Bord Pleanála decided to proceed with a written determination for the appeal. An Bord Pleanála contacted Donegal County Council to inform them of their decision. The council then contacted members of the bereaved families informing them of the decision. Donegal County Council said An Bord Pleanála has decided that an oral hearing is not necessary as the appeal can be adequately handled through written procedures. Advertisement Reacting to the decision, one bereaved family member said the voices of those left behind after the tragedy had once again been silenced. The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "This is a disgrace. We are not being given a chance to outline our concerns in a proper manner. "Ten people have died and yet An Bord Pleanála do not think their lives or our hurt are important enough so we can be heard." In an update provided to Donegal County Council, the board confirmed that the processing of the appeal will now continue, and the Donegal County Council planning aepartment will be notified of the decision once it is made. Advertisement The signatories of the Phoenix Law appeal claimed that the Donegal Planning Authority, by approving the application, breached human rights obligations by failing to allow families to participate fully in the decision. The Planning Authority maintained it followed all statutory requirements in its decision-making process and urged An Bord Pleanála to uphold the original grant of permission. The new development will include demolishing the existing building and erect a new building which would include a shop, a post office, a beauty salon, fuel pumps and memorial features including space for a memorial garden. Planning permission for this was granted in February. Advertisement Ireland Castletown House activists sued by companies over... Read More A number of families impacted by the tragedy have strongly objected to the building of a new business on the very site where their loved ones lost their lives. In a separate appeal, objectors have argued that it is against public policy to rebuild a development where a mass tragedy has occurred. They stated that inquests into the deaths of the 10 victims have not yet occurred and that if the development proceeds, it will result in the destruction of crucial evidence. 'Both the Stardust Nightclub and the Grenfell Tower were never rebuilt, and the explosion in Creeslough is akin to those tragedies,' the appeal said.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Gardaí search for car after 'suspicious approach' to woman in Co Donegal
Gardaí are tracing the owner of a car after a 'suspicious approach' to a woman in Co Donegal. The woman was walking alone on backroads between Dunfanaghy and Creeslough in the early afternoon on Tuesday last. Advertisement A car pulled up alongside, and a man began to shout at the woman and threaten her. Local reports say the man tried to get the woman to get into the car, but she managed to get away from him. The woman managed to get the make and model of the car and reported the incident to gardaí a short time later. Apart from being shocked by the incident, the woman was physically unhurt. It is not understood that any arrests have been made yet in connection with the incident but it is understood gardaí have identified the car involved. A Garda spokesperson confirmed the incident. "Gardaí received a report of an incident at Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, at around 12:45pm on 10th June, 2025. Investigations are ongoing."
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Ageism in this day and age
Sir, – In the second sentence of the article on debut novelist Orlaine McDonald, (' Writer Orlaine McDonald: 'I felt a strong need to transcend that little working-class girl who had got herself up the duff,' June 7th) we are told that McDonald 'is 55 but looks not a day above 40'. How, in this day and age, is this focus on age and appearance, presumably meant to make us positively predisposed to McDonald from the outset, an appropriate introduction to a new novelist? I couldn't bring myself to read the third sentence and, anyway, I was too busy wondering when I've ever read such comments in an introduction to a new male novelist…. – Yours, etc, DR CLARA NEARY, READ MORE Co Donegal.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
BBC to apply for more time to consider appeal over Gerry Adams libel ruling
The BBC has indicated it will apply on Tuesday afternoon for a stay on orders relating to Gerry Adams' successful defamation claim against the broadcaster. Former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. On Friday, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 euro (£84,000) after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. It also found the BBC's actions were not in good faith and the corporation had not acted in a fair and reasonable way. The full amount of legal costs to be paid by the BBC in the libel case has yet to be determined. On Tuesday, Hugh McDowell, for the BBC, told Judge Alexander Owens that senior counsel Eoin McCullough intended to apply for a stay in the afternoon. A stay on orders in the case would allow the BBC further time to consider whether it will lodge an appeal. Last week, Mr Adams' legal team said the verdict of the jury was a 'full vindication' for their client while the BBC said it was 'disappointed' with the outcome. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. In the programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gave 'the final say'. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr Adams said the allegation was a 'grievous smear' while the BBC has described the legal action as a 'cynical attempt to launder his reputation'. The high-profile republican sought damages of at least 200,000 euro (£168,000) from the BBC. However, the British public service broadcaster had argued it would be a 'cruel joke' to award the former Sinn Fein president any damages. It had argued the allegation was corroborated by five other sources and that Mr Adams had a reputation of being a member of the IRA. After six hours and 49 minutes of deliberations in total, the jury awarded the plaintiff 100,000 euro – which falls within the 'medium' range for defamation. Adam Smyth, the director of BBC Northern Ireland said the broadcaster has insurance and 'makes financial provision for ongoing and anticipated legal claims'.
