Latest news with #RobertGarwe
Irish Times
14 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.
Belfast Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Man arrested in Creeslough explosion investigation released without charge
Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7 2022 in the village of Creeslough. The man aged in his 60s was arrested on Friday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He had been held at a Garda station in the north-western region. The Garda said he has been released without charge and a file would now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The investigation into the explosion, which ripped through the service station and an adjacent apartment block, is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is in operation. The inquiry is being led by local gardai, supported by a number of different agencies, including Ireland's Health and Safety Authority. The 10 victims were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh 'Hughie' Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
ITV News
24-05-2025
- ITV News
Man arrested in Creeslough explosion investigation released without charge
A man arrested by gardai investigating an explosion at a petrol station in Cresslough has been released without charge. Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7 2022 in the Co Donegal village. The man aged in his 60s was arrested on Friday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He had been held at a Garda station in the north-western region. The Garda said he has been released without charge and a file would now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The investigation into the explosion, which ripped through the service station and an adjacent apartment block, is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is in operation. The inquiry is being led by local gardai, supported by a number of different agencies, including Ireland's Health and Safety Authority. The 10 victims were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh 'Hughie' Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
Irish Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Major update in Garda investigation into Creeslough explosion
A man arrested by Gardaí investigating an explosion at a service station in Co Donegal in which 10 people died has been released without charge. Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7 2022 in the village of Creeslough. The man aged in his 60s was arrested on Friday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He had been held at a Garda station in the north-western region. The Garda said he has been released without charge and a file would now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The investigation into the explosion, which ripped through the service station and an adjacent apartment block, is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is in operation. The inquiry is being led by local Gardaí, supported by a number of different agencies, including Ireland's Health and Safety Authority. The 10 victims were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh 'Hughie' Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
ITV News
23-05-2025
- ITV News
Gardai investigating Creeslough explosion arrest man aged in 60s
Gardai investigating an explosion at a service station in Co Donegal in which 10 people died have arrested a man in his 60s. Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7, 2022 in the village of Creeslough. The man was arrested on Friday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The man is being held at a Garda station in the north-western region. The investigation into the explosion, which ripped through the service station and an adjacent apartment block, is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is in operation. The inquiry is being led by local gardai, supported by a number of different agencies, including Ireland's Health and Safety Authority. The 10 victims of the explosion were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh 'Hughie' Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
