A vigil has been held for the 10 people who died in the tragic explosion at an Irish petrol station. Prayers were said for victims who included a five-year-old girl and her father who were buying a birthday cake for her mum, and a teenager who had stopped off at the shop to buy ice-cream on her way to a sleepover.
Parents hugged their children, people silently carried candles and the crowd sang an Irish language hymn, A Mhuire Mhathair, as they came together to remember those who died in the Creeslough petrol station explosion. Police are continuing to investigate the blast that ripped through the Applegreen service station and convenience store in the small County Donegal town that is home to 400 people, on Friday afternoon.
The huge explosion claimed the lives of 10 local people who have now been named by police. Those who died were:
Robert Garwe, 50, and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe
The youngest victim of the explosion was with her father in the convenience store to buy a birthday cake for her mum. Her mother Áine has now lost her partner and only child. Her father Robert was known in the village as Bob, who "doted" on his daughter.
Áine’s brother Killian told the Belfast Telegraph how the family had decided to postpone celebrations for her birthday last week until the weekend.
“It was Áine’s birthday during the week, and they decided to celebrate it at the weekend, and Shauna was excited about going down to buy a birthday cake for her mum, and this happened. It was as random as that,” Killian said.
“She was a great little character. Everyone loved her. What more can you say? She was just five years of age. What more do you say to a five-year-old’s death? It’s traumatic.”
He added: "It was just awful, tragic timing, and this town will never recover from this. Áine is numb. It’s a birthday she’ll never forget.
“It’s awful. The whole town is distraught. We’re from Dublin originally. Áine’s been living here a few years and she has a lot of family like cousins and aunts and uncles around here. It’s a small area with a very close community. I’ve never witnessed anything like this community before. I really haven’t. This community is incredible."
Creeslough pharmacist Fegus Brennan described her as a "playful, energetic" little girl who always asked for a lollipop.
He told the BBC: "Looking at her photograph as the names have been released brings home the tragedy of a life cut short. A beautiful little girl."
Catherine O'Donnell, 39, and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan
An after school trip to the post office ended in tragedy for Catherine and her teenage son James. He had been studying at Mulroy College in the nearby town of Milford and they had been queuing when the explosion happened.
James' school said management and parents are in "deep shock after the tragic events". School principal Fiona Temple said the school has been left devastated by the tragedy.
“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,” she said.
Leona Harper, 14
The teenager had been on her way to a sleepover with a friend for a Friday treat when she stopped off to buy an ice cream. Like James, the talented rugby player was also a student at Mulroy College and had been due to go to a birthday party, but decided to go to the sleepover instead.
Her local rugby team posted a tribute over the weekend, writing: "We are heartbroken to say our worst fears have been confirmed. Leona Harper tragically lost her life yesterday in Creeslough. Leona was a talented rugby player and an important part of our U14 girls team.
"To Leona's parents, Hugh and Donna, her brothers Anthony and Jamie, and all of her team mates, we offer you our deepest condolences and support. There are no words that feel strong enough at a moment of deep sorrow such as this. Rest in peace, Leona."
Her family said they were "eternally grateful" to those who had helped to find her body.
Jessica Gallagher, 24
The fashion designer had only recently moved to Belfast to start a new position as a fashion designer on Monday, but had come home for the weekend and was staying in her boyfriend's flat above the shop when the explosion happened.
She graduated with an honours degree in fashion design and marketing from the International Fashion Academy in Paris. Jessica went to France in 2018 shortly after leaving Loreto Convent in Letterkenny. The 24-year-old also spent time studying at the Fashion Design College in Shanghai before returning home.
Prior to moving to Belfast, she lived at the family home at Killoughcarran, Creeslough and is survived by her parents and two sisters. She was with Conor McFadden at his apartment above the shop. Mr McFadden was critically injured and is being treated in the burns unit of St James' Hospital in Dublin after being airlifted following the blast.
Aileen Níc Pháidín knew Jessica well from their childhood. She told the BBC: "She was a lovely girl - I was really friendly with her when I was younger. We went back and forth to each other's houses, baking together. Me and my brother would have been over a lot in her house and her mammy would have made us dinners every day - very good-hearted people."
Jessica’s uncle John Shanahan told The Irish Times that his niece was “just starting off” in her career “with everything ahead of her”.
James O'Flaherty, 48
Originally from Sydney in Australia, he was a married father with one son and lived in Dunfanaghy, about a 10-minute drive from Creeslough.
Martin McGill, 49
Martin has been described locally as a "devoted son" who cared for his elderly mother, and regularly visited the pharmacy to collect medication for her. Pharmacist Fergus Brennan told the BBC: "He was such a special, lovable and friendly young man, very well known and liked around Creeslough."
After the explosion Martin's mother was trying to find him and called the pharmacy to ask if he had been there.
"Tragically one of our team went up to [the petrol station] and Martin's car was on the forecourt," said Mr Brennan.
Martina Martin, 49
Mother-of-four Martina worked in the shop at the petrol station. Her sons Sean and Neil attended a vigil in the nearby village of Downings on Sunday night. There they shook hands with and hugged firefighters from Mevagh Fire Station who had been at the scene of the blast on Friday.
Hugh Kelly
The farmer from the area was the oldest person to die as a result of the explosion.
At a vigil on Sunday night, Parish priest Father Stephen Gorman read a statement sent on behalf of Pope Francis, expressing his sadness at the tragic loss of life and sending his condolences to the people of Ireland.
A statement sent by his representative to Bishop of Raphoe Alexander McGuckian read: "His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the loss of life and destruction caused by the explosion in Creeslough and he expresses his spiritual closeness to all those suffering in the aftermath of this tragedy.
"While entrusting the deceased to the merciful love of almighty god, His Holiness implores the divine blessings of consolation and healing upon the injured, the displaced and the families coping with pain of loss.
"As a pledge of strength and peace in the lord, the Holy Father sends his blessing to all the people of Ireland."
Irish police said a man in his 20s remains in a critical condition in St James's Hospital in Dublin following Friday's blast. The seven other surviving casualties continue to receive treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital and remain in a stable condition.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said there were "very traumatic scenes" on Friday afternoon.
"Emergency responders from right across Co Donegal and wider and our colleagues in Northern Ireland responded to very, very traumatic scenes, and then processed into dealing with recovery of fatalities at the scene," he said.
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