One year on from the petrol station explosion at the Applegreen station in Creeslough, County Donegal, families of the victims speak of their devastation. Ten people were killed in the explosion, including four men, three women, two teenagers, and a five-year-old girl. The youngest victim was a fashion designer, Jessica Gallagher, who was due to start a new job in Belfast. The other victims were from the village or surrounding areas. The explosion also destroyed the village’s only shop and a section of an apartment block.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown, and Gardaí’s investigation into the matter is ongoing. A memorial service for the victims, families, and first responders will be held at the site of the blast, followed by a Mass service in St Michael’s Church. Creeslough, a small village in the northwest of Ireland where only about 400 people live, is still in mourning, with many still using bereavement and counseling services.
The community is banding together to support each other, with Dr. Paul Stewart, a GP in the nearby Dunfanaghy Health Centre, stating: “There’s a quiet sadness about the town, [it’s] certainly not back to where we were, and I don’t know how long that will last.” Even after a year, the locals are finding it hard to comprehend what happened on that fateful day. Questions around the cause of the explosion continue to haunt them, leading to frustration among the bereaved families, seeking answers.
Leona Harper was just 14 years old and one of the youngest victims. She was on her way to buy ice cream for her sleepover with friends when she spoke for the last time with her mother, Donna. Leona was one of the last victims to be found after the explosion, and her father, Hugh, described the excruciating moment he had to identify his daughter. As the investigation continues and the families’ wait for answers, local bishop Alan McGuckian reassured them that they “will be there with one another and for one another.
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