LAST UPDATE | 9 Oct 2022

THE 10 VICTIMS of the explosion at a filling station in Creeslough in Co Donegal have been named by Gardaí.

Tributes have poured in for the victims and their families after the search and recovery operation was concluded yesterday.

The 10 victims are:

• James O Flaherty, 48 years

• Jessica Gallagher, 24 years

• Martin McGill, 49 years

• Catherine O Donnell, 39 years and her son James Monaghan, 13 years

• Hugh Kelly, 59 years

• Martina Martin, 49 years

• Robert Garwe, 50 years and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5 years

• Leona Harper, 14 years

In a statement last night, Letterkenny Rugby Club paid tribute to Leona, describing her as a “talented rugby player and an important part of our U14 girls team” and offered their “deepest condolences” to her family.

“There are no words that feel strong enough at a moment of deep sorrow such as this.”

Mulroy College, which both Leona and James attended, issued a statement this afternoon expressing their condolences.

“It is with deepest regret that we advise that two of our students, James Monaghan and Leona Harper, and two mothers of students enrolled in our school, Catherine O Donnell and Martina Martin, were among the fatalities,” the statement reads.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the families who have tragically lost a loved one following Friday’s incident in Creeslough.”

Fiona Temple, Principal of Mulroy College, said that the school community has been devastated by the news.

“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,” said Temple.

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. Our priority, as a school management and staff, is the wellbeing and welfare of the students and their families at this tragic time.

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“We extend our best wishes to all those who suffered injuries including some of our students.”

A spokesperson for the Gallagher family said that Jessica had moved to Belfast and had recently started work as a fashion designer in the city, having graduated with an Honours degree from the International Fashion Academy in Paris.

According to the spokesperson, she was visiting her boyfriend’s apartment above the Applegreen service station when the explosion occurred.

Investigation

Gardaí are continuing to investigate all of the circumstances into the cause of the explosion. The investigation is being coordinated from an incident room at Milford Garda Station.

The Garda Technical Bureau, with assistance from other agencies, will continue to examine the scene, which remains cordoned off. These examinations are likely to continue over the coming days. Traffic diversions on the N56 at the scene of the incident remain in place.

Post mortems will continue over the next few days.

One man in his 20s remains in a critical condition in St. James Hospital in Dublin.

The seven other surviving casualties continue to receive treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital and remain in stable condition.