Creeslough explosion: Donegal Council backs public inquiry call

Independent councillor Frank McBrearty’s motion passed unanimously at Monday’s full meeting of Donegal County Council.

Several bereaved family members and survivors of the blast were present in the council chamber.

An investigation by An Garda Síochána (Irish police service) into the fatal explosion is ongoing.

The investigation continues to be led by local gardaí in the Donegal Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies, including the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

Earlier this year, a number of bereaved family members and survivors called on the Irish government to set up a public inquiry, which would run concurrently to the ongoing police investigation, into the tragedy.

Some families calling on the Irish government to commission an independent investigation have also previously met Irish justice minister Helen McEntee, minister for agriculture Charlie McConalogue and minister for the environment Eamon Ryan.

A statement from ministers after that meeting said they had “communicated to those present the strong desire of government that families get the answers they need in relation to the loss of their loved ones in what was a national tragedy”.

The ministers added: “While the ministers did not rule out a public inquiry it is important that the garda investigation, the HSA investigation and the CRU investigation complete their work.”