TG4 has confirmed it will air a documentary on the Creeslough tragedy tonight despite appeals from some of the victims' families.
The documentary, Iniúchadh TG4 - An Craoslach, will focus on the people of the area who were the first to respond to the scene of the explosion at an Applegreen service station in Donegal, which killed 10 people in October last year.
It contains interviews with some of those who risked their lives to dig through the rubble and rescue victims who were trapped.
However, a number of families of those killed in the explosion have objected to the documentary as they believe it should not be aired until a full investigation into the blast is carried out.
The victims' families continue to await a conclusion to the multi-agency investigation that is underway, as gardai work to figure out what happened on that day in October 2022.
Áine Flanagan, who lost her partner and her only child in the explosion, has asked TG4 for the piece not to be broadcast.
Her daughter, five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe was the youngest victim of the blast, and was killed alongside her father Robert Garwe after they stopped into the service station to buy a birthday cake.
The father of 14-year-old Creeslough victim Leona Harper has also appealed to TG4 not to air the documentary saying it was still "far too raw".
Hugh Harper told RTE's Liveline today: "I don’t know what way to put it, it’s just too damn early. My kids are not ready see some of them images.
"My eldest boy and my wife were one of the first on the scene literally minutes after the explosion... What they have seen, and they won’t talk to me about it, they don’t want me to know."
However, the Irish language TV station has decided to go ahead with broadcasting the documentary, which will air at 9.30pm on Wednesday on TG4.
In a statement on Wenesday TG4 said: “Having carefully considered all of the important and sensitive issues raised with us, we have decided that the documentary Iniúchadh TG4 - An Craoslach will air on TG4 tonight.
“The documentary is about the ordinary people who assisted in the rescue at the scene before emergency services arrived. It contains interviews with some of those who risked their own lives to bring others to safety.
"The programme does not report anything about the victims other than what has already been reported publicly in the direct aftermath of the tragedy.”
Áine Flanagan's brother, Killian Flanagan, spoke to RTE’s Liveline yesterday and said he had contacted TG4 and gardaí to request that it not air while the garda investigation is underway.
Mr Flanagan raised a red flag and claimed that families were not consulted about the documentary and that his sister had found out about it in an online article.
After discovering there would be a programme aired, which he claims none of them knew anything about, Killian said his sister "hasn’t slept a wink" since.
He insisted that they acknowledge that the first responders and the community - who are involved in the production - are heroes.
However, he said, "Áine and others will be forced to look at a one-hour documentary revisiting the worst chapter of their existence, and seeing and hearing things for the first time and it’s not acceptable."
He said his sister is absolutely devastated at the idea of what she is going to see and hear on the programme.
He told Liveline: "This should not be the first representation of what happened.
"Why they would put the needs of sensationalism ahead of the needs of the victims' families, I just don’t get it.
The 10 people killed in the Creeslough tragedy were; five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father 50-year-old Robert Garwe, 14-year-old Leona Harper, 24-year-old Jessica Gallagher, 48-year-old James O’Flaherty, 49-year-old Martin McGill, 59-year-old Hugh Kelly, 49-year-old Martina Martin, 39-year-old Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan.
READ MORE:
Ireland food prices soar by fastest rate on record as cost of living crisis escalates
Mr Flashy pal injured after being targeted by hit squad with 'military-grade' arms
Family of missing Amy Fitzpatrick 'completely broken' as they mark her 31st birthday
Mystery as huge statue of Our Lady goes missing from Wicklow grotto
Weather phenomenon hurtling towards Ireland as Jetstream disrupted and high pressure 'blocked'
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
