The father of a 14-year-old girl killed in the Creeslough explosion says his family's “grief is frozen in time” as they continue to search for answers four years on.
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the tragedy that claimed 10 lives when an explosion ripped through a service station and apartment complex in the Co Donegal village. No one has been charged in connection with the tragedy, and a major Garda investigation into what happened remains ongoing.
Among those killed on October 7, 2022, was Leona Harper, who had travelled to Creeslough for a sleepover and had gone to the shop for an ice cream when the explosion happened.
Family 'stuck' on the day of the tragedy
Four years on, her dad Hugh said the family are still trying to adjust to life without her. He said: “We go home every evening to a house that’s not the same - we are still trying to adjust to that. You never expect something like this to come to your door as a parent and when it does, and it was so sudden, it is very hard.”
Leona’s mum Donna said their lives have remained “on hold” while they wait to learn what happened. She said: “Our lives have literally been on hold for the past four years and we still have no answers. We are as wise today as to what happened as to on the day when this tragedy happened. We are tired but we will not give up. We will not stop until we get answers as to what happened on that day and why it happened.”
Investigation and calls for a public inquiry
Seven arrests have been made during the investigation, most recently in September 2025, but no charges have been brought. Gardaí have been investigating alongside the Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities.
Gardaí submitted their main investigation file to Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions in September last year, before sending a supplementary file containing formal recommendations in April. The DPP has yet to announce whether any prosecutions will follow.
Hugh described trying to establish what happened to his daughter. He told BBC Radio Foyle: “You are trying to establish yourself - but it takes you down a maze of rabbit holes. One question leads to another and it just feels like torture and torment.”
He believes a public inquiry is now the only way the families will get the full facts about what happened. Hugh said: “We are steadfast on that - a public inquiry is the only tool to compel people to be questioned under oath and get definitive answers. Leona went to Creeslough on a Friday afternoon and went into a shop - that’s the last we seen or heard of her alive. Every day, we grieve for our little girl - we are stuck on the 7th October 2022. When I get up in the morning, the first thought I have is about Leona and the questions around her last moments. Until we have answers - our grief is frozen in time.”
Commemoration planned at the site
Preparations are continuing for inquests into the 10 deaths. The families met Taoiseach Micheál Martin in July, with their solicitor later saying he indicated a statutory inquiry could be considered if the existing criminal, coronial and other investigative processes failed to provide the answers they were seeking.
Five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father Robert Garwe, 50, were also among those who tragically died. Aine Flanagan, mother of Shauna and partner of Robert, described being “heartbroken”. She told the Irish Independent: “Robert and Shagna were going to buy me a birthday cake on the 7th of October, we don’t know why the explosion happened. No inquest, no death certs, no answers. I think it’s very traumatic that we’re still waiting for answers, the pain never goes away. To cope with the daily loss of my whole immediate family that day.”
Hugh explained his determination to establish what happened is also tied to a promise he made when his daughter was born. He said: “When Leona was born, I was the first to hold her. I made her a promise that I would keep her safe and not let anything happen to her and unfortunately, I couldn’t keep that promise. But even though Leona is not physically here, I feel she is still with me. And I will continue with the promise, even in death. I will do my best to protect her name and get to the bottom of exactly what happened in Creeslough that day - I will leave no stone unturned.”
Donna added: "How do you begin to move on with your grief when you know absolutely nothing four years later?"
Those who died were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Jessica Gallagher; Martin McGill; James O'Flaherty; Martina Martin; Hugh Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper. A commemoration and prayer service is due to take place at the site at 3pm today, where the community will once again remember the 10 lives lost.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Ireland’s Department of Justice said: “As the fourth anniversary of the Creeslough explosion tragedy approaches Minister [Jim] O’Callaghan’s thoughts continue to be with the families, loved ones, survivors and the wider community of Creeslough. The focus of the Creeslough investigation remains on ensuring that the investigative processes are allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice so that the full facts can be established.”
Gardaí said: “The victims, their families and the community are in our thoughts.” They added: “An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person with any information in relation to the fatal explosion – to please come forward and speak to the garda investigation team.”
