Creeslough victims' families 'feel betrayed' as site plans approved

Planning permission to develop a new petrol station and shop on the site of an explosion in Creeslough, County Donegal, in which 10 people lost their lives, has been granted by a council.

The blast happened at a service station in the village on 7 October 2022.

A number of objections, including some from victims' families, had previously been lodged against Vivo Shell Ltd's application for the development.

In a statement, Phoenix Law's Darragh Mackin, who represents some of the victims' families, described the decision to grant planning permission as "morally bankrupt" and indicated that they intend to challenge "every aspect" of it.

He said it would be "unfathomable" for the Grenfell tower or the Stardust nightclub to be rebuilt, and Creeslough was "no different".

There is now an appeal period, which will last for four weeks, whereby any potential objections can be raised with An Bord Pleanála, a body that decides on appeals from planning decisions made by local authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

The application was approved by Donegal County Council.

It is for the demolition of the existing building and the erection of a new commercial building, including a shop, a post office, an off-licence, a store, a deli, toilets and a forecourt.

Other associated site development works listed in the application include a space for a memorial garden.

Ann-Marie Boyle, whose sister Catherine O'Donnell and nephew James Monaghan died in the explosion, told BBC News NI families were "very angry at how the whole thing has been handled".

"From the very start we were told by Donegal County Council that any decisions that were being made or anything that had to be discussed, the families would be at the forefront," she said.

"No consultations with families, everybody has just ploughed on, doing their own thing."

Ms Boyle said Donna Harper, who lost her daughter Leona Harper in Creeslough, contacted Ms Boyle to inform her that the planning permission decision was in a local newspaper.

"They knew before the families knew," she said.

"The decision was published on the portal and families only received their registered letters this morning after the fact it has all been out in the public," Ms Boyle said.

"It just brings all the trauma back.

"We just don't want it to be on that site, it's so disrespectful to all the 10 people that died," Ms Boyle added.

She intends to appeal the decision.

Marie Ronaghan, who lost her sister Martina Martin in the explosion, said the family was "devastated".

"It brings everything back," she told BBC News NI.

"We can't believe that they have got planning permission," Ms Ronaghan said.

She sad the family had been following the process on the council website.

"Very late last night I got a message with a photograph of the front page of our local newspaper to say the decision had been granted," she said.

Ms Ronaghan said it was "horrible to find out like that".

"We can't believe that they are going to build a shop back where 10 people have lost their lives. It is so disrespectful to the feelings of the families," she added.

She said she felt like "we haven't been taken into consideration".

"The town needs a shop but not where families lost their loved ones."

Áine Flanagan, partner of Robert Garwe and mum of Shauna Flanagan Garwe who lost their lives in the explosion, says the decision "is absolutely appalling".

"The ten victims of this explosion, it is complete and utter disrespect for us on every ground," Ms Flanagan said.

"There are no words for how the families feel, we feel betrayed.

"There is nobody standing up for us on any level, we need to get the country behind us."

Speaking to BBC News NI, Ms Flanagan said she can only describe it as "gut wrenching" and that there is "no logic" behind the decision.

"There's no respect for us. To put in ten poles on a site with a kerb that is a memorial garden... I cant even express how horrible that is," she said.

"It's like my heart has been ripped out and all my family has been deeply affected by the loss of Shauna and Bob.

"My right to grieve has not been taken into account," Ms Flanagan added.

In the planning proposal, Vivo Shell Ltd said: "It is important that it is acknowledged that this is a very sensitive application insofar as the site is where the awful event of 7 of October 2022 took place, an event which had a massive impact on the local area and much wider afield and has left families to reconcile the tragic loss of loved ones".

They said they hope family members of persons who were injured or deceased "will see that much consideration and thought has gone into the application so as to be respectful towards all".

"It is unfathomable that the Grenfell tower or the Stardust nightclub would be rebuilt. Creeslough is no different," solicitor Darragh Mackin said.

"Despite the fierce and unrelenting pleas from the families directly affected, the Donegal County Council has placed commercial and business interests above the interests and rights of these families."

"Such a decision will not be taken lying down. Our clients have today signalled their intention to challenge every aspect of this planning decision in an effort to vindicate their rights, and the rights of their loved ones."

In a statement, Donegal County Council said a notification of the decision to grant has been posted to all third parties who made a submission and the applicant.

"The applicant/agent and any third party have four weeks to consider the decision and determine whether or not they wish to take the matter to appeal via An Bord Pleanála," they stated.

Creeslough is a small village in the north west of the island of Ireland, about 15 miles (24km) from Letterkenny and 30 miles (48km) from the border with Northern Ireland.

It has a population of about 400 people.

The blast, on 7 October 2022, resulted in the highest number of civilian casualties in a single incident in the county in decades.

The victims - four men, three women, two teenagers and a five-year-old girl - were from the village or surrounding areas.

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.