The Daily Star Ireland
The families of the victims in the Creeslough explosion that claimed ten lives on 7th October 2022 are about to challenge legally the recent approval to redevelop the service station where the explosion occurred. The victims included four men, three women, and three children aged five and 59 years.
Phoenix Law’s Darragh Mackin, representing the bereaved families, criticized Donegal County Council’s granting of Vivo Shell Limited’s permission for the redevelopment of the site. The proposal permits the demolition of the existing building to construct a new complex that will feature a forecourt, shop, post office, off-licence, toilets, and memorial garden. Mackin described the decision as “insensitive and morally bankrupt” and accused the council of being more fascinated by commercial matters than by the rights and interests of the families.
In comparison to other tragedies, Mackin argued that it would be like rebuilding the site of the Stardust nightclub or Grenfell Tower soon after the tragedies occurred, which would have been inappropriate. He emphasized that proceeding with the redevelopment is dismissive of the profound grief and trauma experienced by the families, in effect “rubbing salt into open wounds.”
The families are also upset over the failure by Donegal County Council to communicate and consult. Anne Marie Boyle, who saw her sister Catherine O’Donnell and nephew James Monaghan die in the explosion, felt outraged at exclusion from the talk and decision about the site’s future. Marie Ronaghan, sister of dead Martina Martin, was unhappy with the move to rebuild a shop on the site, alleging that the planners did not have any regard for the feelings of the families.
Solicitor Damien Tansey, representing other families, indicated towards a “vacuum of information” about the redevelopment. It is imperative that the site remains untouched until the investigations have finished because to allow it to be used like an ordinary development site undervalues the horror and necessity of huge forensic studies, he argued.
They wish for a public inquiry to run in conjunction with existing ones by An Garda Síochána, the Health and Safety Authority, and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities. They wish for answers to all associated with the cause of the explosion and assurances against recurrence. Despite government ministerial meetings, including with the Minister for Justice, the families believe that their issues have not been satisfactorily dealt with and that they are resolute in pursuing their challenge to the redevelopment plans to pay respect to their deceased relatives.
In response to the outrage, Donegal County Council explained that it never considered purchasing the land for a public memorial, as suggested by some of the families. Issuance of permission by the council for the land has deepened the resolve of the families to continue pursuing justice and ensuring that the future use of the land is done in respect for the victims with proper sensitivity to the community’s loss.
