The father of a teenager who died in the Creeslough tragedy has said the family “feels abandoned” after planning permission was granted for a service station near the site. 

In 2022, 10 people died when there was an explosion in the Donegal village’s petrol station. 

One of the victims was Leona Harper, who was just 14 years old at the time. 

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Ms Harper’s father, Hugh, said he only learnt the news that planning permission had been granted through social media. 

It was, he said, a “difficult way to find out”, especially given there is an ongoing criminal investigation. 

“Our lives are on hold, we have had no answers, we have no inclination as to what had happened, why it happened and was it avoidable,” he explained. 

“Again, our lives are on hold, but it seems to be that it's acceptable that other people's lives are willing to carry on at a pace that they choose to carry on with. 

“It's deeply frustrating and hard to comprehend how that can be.” 

Construction workers at the scene in Creeslough, County Donegal. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.

Although a number of people have been arrested in connection to the explosion, all have been released without charge. 

In 2024, the families called for a public inquiry.

“Listen, we're not here to criticise or undermine the capabilities and the ability of the Garda in their investigation,” Mr Harper said. 

“We have always said that we would give them as much time as they need.

“But in saying that, as we are now one of the families affected by losing Leona and that explosion, the longer that this goes on, the harder it is to come to terms [with]. 

“Well, you can't even really come to terms with it, to be quite honest. Your life's on hold, you're sitting with the thoughts and the what-ifs.” 

A sign for Creeslough in Donegal. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.

Mr Harper would like a memorial to his daughter and the other nine victims on the site where they died. 

It is, he feels, “the least we could expect”, adding that they currently “feel abandoned”. 

“There's 10 people dead and for us to pay our respects in the village of Creeslough, we have to stand along the side of a road with a boundary of a footpath and markers along the side of the road - a busy place,” he said. 

“You have no personal space to sit down and even just think. 

“So, I suppose the lack of communication with us and there's been no talks about that or communication regarding any type of memorial that includes discussions with the family. 

“We're starting to become very frustrated as to why that's not happening.”

Main image: Split of Leona Harper and crowds at her funeral. Images by RIP.ie and PA Images / Alamy