Main pic: An architect’s impression of the proposed new filling station and supermarket in Creeslough.
Donegal County Council has granted permission for controversial plans to rebuild a service station on the site of the Creeslough explosion.
Planners gave the go-ahead yesterday after a lengthy process.
The works include demolishing the existing building and erect a new building which would include a shop, a post office, a beauty salon, fuel pumps and memorial features including space for a memorial garden. The development is at the same location where ten people lost their lives at the Applegreen shopping and apartment complex in October 2022
In a decision published on their website, council planners said it decided to grant permission for the development subject to ten conditions.
The conditions concern measures related to orderly development, traffic safety, prevention of flooding, sustainable development, waste management and protection of the environment.
Vivo Shell Limited, in its application, expressed hope that “family members of persons who were injured or are deceased will see that much consideration and thought has gone into the application to be respectful towards all”.
They said in the application proposal, “if granted [it] will result in a state-of-the-art development which will incorporate memorials and respect the victims [of the Creeslough explosion]”.
Numerous objections had been lodged against the developer’s application, including many from bereaved family members.
Families who lost their loved ones expressed hurt, anger and opposition over the proposal during the planning process.
Back in April last year, the mother of one of the victims told Donegal Daily she was shocked over the proposals for the new complex. Donna Harper’s daughter Leona (14) lost her life in the explosion.
Siblings who lost a sister said in their objection that [the proposal] “threatens to reopen wounds that have yet to heal and inflict further pain upon those who are already burdened with unimaginable grief”.
They said: “to see the place where our loved one perished transformed into a place of commerce is not only disrespectful but hurtful”.
A former employee, who worked in the service station said that “rebuilding this garage on the same site will be re-traumatising”.
Phoenix Law, which acts for many of the families said: “the application has caused immeasurable hurt to our clients” and they added that “this is a time for restoration and reassurance, not redevelopment”.
The explosion at the service station and apartment complex in Creeslough on 7 October 2022, claimed the lives of four men, three women and three children, aged between five and 59.
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 “Hughie” Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
The planning application was lodged on 18 April 2024. A decision was due on the planning application last June: however, Donegal County Council sought further information, requested and received revised plans. The council has asked Vivo Shell Ltd, of which Danny Martin Lafferty and Annette Lafferty are directors, to submit evidence that demonstrates they have ‘sufficient legal title’ to make the planning application.
The decision was uploaded to the council’s website this morning. Following the notification of Donegal County Council’s decision, all parties have four weeks to decide whether they wish to appeal the decision via An Bord Pleanála.
While this process is ongoing, Donegal County Council said it will not be in a position to make further comment.
Meanwhile, Gardaí have previously said an investigation, led by Gardaí in the Donegal Division into the fatal explosion in Creeslough, Co. Donegal is ongoing with the intention of submitting a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardaí said more than a year ago that more than 900 statements have been taken, and more than 1,350 lines of inquiry actioned.
The investigation is supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
More than 20 bereaved family members and survivors met with three senior cabinet ministers for 90 minutes at Government Buildings last October to seek an independent inquiry that will run concurrently to the ongoing garda investigation.
A statement from the Ministers after that meeting stated it was important that “Government heard first-hand” from those impacted by the explosion.
They said: “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”.
Last November, Donegal County Councillors unanimously backed a motion calling for the new Government to establish a public inquiry into the Creeslough tragedy within its first 100 days of office.
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