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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.
Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man arrested in connection with Creeslough explosion released without charge
A man in his 60s who was arrested on Thursday as part of the investigation into the fatal explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, has been released without charge. Gardaí confirmed on Friday that a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The man had been detained, under the provisions of section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984, as part of the ongoing investigation into the explosion at a building complex in Creeslough in October 2022, which claimed the lives of 10 people He was the fifth person to be arrested in connection with the explosion at the Applegreen/Nearby service station and store in the Co Donegal town. In May last year, gardaí arrested a man and a woman, both aged in their 40s, for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Earlier in the year, two men in their 50s were arrested in connection with the explosion. Like the man and the woman arrested in May, they were later released without charge. The investigation continues to be led by local gardaí in the Donegal Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Those who died on October 7, 2022, in the explosion, were James O Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, Martin McGill, 49, Catherine O Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, Hugh Kelly, 59, Martina Martin, 49, Robert Garwe, 50, and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5, and Leona Harper, 14.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man, 60s, arrested in connection with Creeslough explosion
Gardaí investigating the Creeslough explosion in Co Donegal have arrested a man aged in his 60s. Gardaí said the man was arrested for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He is currently being detained under the provisions of section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the North Western Region. He is the fifth person to be arrested in connection with the explosion at the Applegreen/Nearby service station and store in the Co Donegal town in which 10 people died. In May last year, gardaí arrested a man and a woman, both aged in their 40s, for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Earlier in the year, two men in their 50s were arrested in connection with the explosion. Like the man and the woman arrested in May, they were later released without charge. A Garda spokesperson said: 'The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough, County Donegal is ongoing. 'This morning, investigating gardaí arrested one male aged in his 60s for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. 'This male is currently detained. 'A Garda Spokesperson is not available at this time.' The investigation continues to be led by local gardaí in the Donegal Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Those who died on October 7, 2022, in the explosion, were James O Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, Martin McGill, 49, Catherine O Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, Hugh Kelly, 59, Martina Martin, 49, Robert Garwe, 50, and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5, and Leona Harper, 14.
