File sent to prosecutors over Creeslough explosion

Ten people were killed in an explosion at the Creeslough service station on 7 October 2022

A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Republic of Ireland in connection with the 2022 Creeslough explosion that killed 10 people.

The blast happened at the Applegreen service station in the village on 7 October 2022.

Gardaí (Irish police) said it has now forwarded a primary investigation file into the explosion to the DPP.

To date, seven arrests have been made but no one has been charged in connection with the explosion.

Who were the Creeslough victims?

Those who died were five-year-old Shauna Flanagan-Garwe and her father, Robert Garwe, 50, 14-year-old Leona Harper, Hugh Kelly, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, and Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan

The explosion killed four men, three women, two teenagers and a five-year-old girl who were all from the village or surrounding areas.

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; Jessica Gallagher; Martin McGill; James O'Flaherty; Martina Martin; Hugh Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper.

Renewed appeal over petrol station explosion

The criminal investigation into the explosion is being led by officers based in County Donegal.

No official explanation has ever been given for the blast.

"As the third anniversary of this fatal explosion in which 10 persons tragically died, approaches on the 7th October next, the victims, their families and the Creeslough community are in our thoughts," a Garda spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added the families of the victims continue to be supported by family liaison officers and were briefed at a meeting on Monday night.

Investigating officers, the Garda said, are keen to speak to "any person that was in the commercial premises... at any time prior to the fatal explosion on the 7th October 2022 and who may not have spoken formally to An Garda Síochána to date."

Earlier this month, Jessica Gallagher's sister Lisa said victims' families had been "left in the dark" almost three years on from the explosion.

Ms Gallagher said bereaved relatives need answers.

Earlier this year, some of the relatives objected to a proposal to build a new petrol station with a shop and post office at the explosion site.