All 10 people killed in an explosion at a petrol station in County Donegal have been named by police.
The blast in the village of Creeslough on Friday afternoon left a scene of debris and devastation, and claimed the lives of four men, three women, two teenagers and a five-year-old girl.
In a news conference on Sunday, police said the victims are 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, aged five, and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
Leona was the first to be named as among those killed.
Letterkenny Rugby Club described her as a “talented rugby player” and an “important part of our U14 girls’ team” in a post on their Facebook page.
Shauna Flanagan Garwe, aged five, was killed in the blast with her father Robert
Robert Garwe, 50
Leona and fellow victim James Monaghan were pupils at Mulroy College, as were a number of those injured in the blast.
The school’s principal Fiona Temple said: “We as a school community are devastated on hearing of the tragedy and the fatal outcome for our two beautiful students and our cherished parents.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and the Creeslough community at this time.
“We are numbed by this overwhelming sadness and will work together to support all members of our school community in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.”
Catherine O Donnell, 39 years and her son James Monaghan, 13 years
Martina Martin, 49
A man in his 20s is in a critical condition in hospital in Dublin, while seven other people are being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital and are described as being in a stable condition.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said on Sunday that the scene of the explosion is still being examined and remains cordoned off.
Hugh Kelly, 59
Martin McGill, 49
Post mortem examinations on the victims have started and will continue over the next few days, although results will not be released for “operational reasons”.
Spt Geraghty said: “It is a huge impact for a small rural community – they were all local people, all very much involved in the community, all shopping in their local shop.
“But it is a very strong community, as seen here on Friday afternoon…so I’m sure the community will come together and will support each other.”
Jessica Gallagher, 24
James O’Flaherty, 48
Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian told Sunday mass at St Michael’s Church that the community of Creeslough was “living through a nightmare of shock and horror”.
He added: “Over the last couple of days as people gathered in groups to talk about what has happened here these last days, the one word that stands out for me in relation to the explosion is something somebody said.
“It is so random, they said. And what she was referring to was, anybody could have been caught up in that. There’s something deeply shocking and upsetting about what life throws up, can throw up.”
Pic: North West Newspix
Spt Geraghty said there had been “very traumatic scenes” on Friday, adding that emergency services personnel had come from across Co Donegal as well as from Northern Ireland to help.
