The Creeslough families are ‘devastated’ at plans to build a new service station on the site of the tragic Donegal explosion.

Ten people were killed and a number of others were injured in the explosion in October 2022.

One of those who died was 14-year-old Leona Harper, whose mother, Donna, told Lunchtime Live this afternoon that she strongly opposes plans to build on the site. 

“It really is devastating,” she said. 

“Such a holy, sacred piece of ground is going to be dug up and built on.” 

Leona Harper. Picture by: Facebook/An Garda Síochána

Ms Harper first heard about the plans last month when the owners of the site arrived at her front door and told her what they had in mind for the site. 

“We didn’t expect them to land at our door,” she said 

“There’s an ongoing investigation still at the moment. 

“When they landed at the door, it was very brief and they were just there to say that they’re building on the same site. 

“I asked them, are they building on the exact same site where I lost my daughter, where she took her last breath, where 10 people lost their lives, where so many people were injured, so many people traumatised and one the biggest disasters ever to hit Donegal?

“They told me, ‘Yes.’”

Overall, Ms Harper believes there has been a “pure lack of communication” and feels relatives deserve more consultation. 

“I just think it’s unbearable to build on the same site where so many people have to live with things that are going to haunt them for the rest of their lives,” she said. 

'It's a big shock'

Derek Martin, who lost his wife Martina Martin in the tragedy, said he was not even told about the redevelopment of the site in person. 

Instead, he found out through word of mouth and - like Ms Harper - he feels it is an inappropriate place for a petrol station. 

“As Donna said, we know where our loved ones took their last breath and… you’re driving in to put petrol pumps and everything where my wife took her last breath,” Mr Martin said. 

“So, it’s a big shock.” 

The coffin of Martina Martin is carried into St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, 13-10-2022. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Mr Martin said the families are still coming to terms with their loss and he would much rather a remembrance garden was built on the site. 

“We know what happened there but there’s people that might not know what happened there,” he said. 

“It’s like life’s just carried on and left us behind and people get back to their normal lives. 

“Stuff like this coming up in the paper retraumatises us families.” 

The Creeslough tragedy currently remains the subject of a live investigation by An Garda Síochána.