Taoiseach vows Government will do 'everything it can' to support Creeslough community

Emergency services continue their work at the scene. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has vowed that the Government will do everything in its power to assist the families of those who have lost loved ones in the explosion in Creeslough, whilst describing the incident as a “dark day for the people of Donegal and Ireland.” 

Speaking at the opening of a relief road in Carrigaline, Co Cork, Mr Martin said that he intended to visit Donegal soon. He noted the huge impact of the tragedy on the small village of Creeslough, which is situated seven miles south of Dunfanaghy.

“The scale and enormity of it in such a small community means that almost everybody will know on a friendly basis obviously people who have lost their lives. Families who have been deeply affected by this. It is a terrible tragedy."

Mr Martin said every effort will be made to help those impacted.

“Well in terms of essential services, the local authorities right through to health services, we will continue to back up those services and whatever is required will be provided.

"And in terms of counselling services through childcare through education through family based counselling we will provide whatever services are identified by the community as being necessary. That will help in terms of people being in a position of trying to cope with this in the days ahead.

The Taoiseach said there were "no words will console what has happened to those who have lost loved ones as a result of this tragedy." File Picture

I will be ensuring that that happens across of all local and national services and that they will be available to help people get through this terrible time for them.” 

The Taoiseach said Irish people have a “strong value” in terms of community, and expressed his belief that people will show tremendous solidarity towards all those who have lost loved ones in the explosion.

“The community in Creeslough is going through an enormous trauma and we have to do everything we possibly can to help the community come through this day by day and in the time ahead," he said. 

Mr Martin said "no words will console what has happened to those who have lost loved ones as a result of this tragedy."

"But we have to be there for them as a people and we have to do everything we can to help them as they try to cope with this unspeakable tragedy.

Emergency services at the scene of suspected explosion at a service station in the north Donegal village of Creeslough. Picture: NW newspix

"The entire nation is shocked at what has happened. It is an unspeakable tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers and our hearts go out to the families of the people of Creeslough, to the families of those who have lost their lives and who have been injured."

The Taoiseach also paid tribute to the emergency services for their diligent, painstaking and difficult work overnight and into today.

It's difficult to comprehend, as people go about their daily lives, that something like this could happen in the middle of the day.

"All those who worked throughout the night at times in danger to rescue people and to do everything they could to comfort people. Our emergency services, health (workers), firefighting, gardaí across the north west and particularly our colleagues in the Northern Ireland fire service and ambulance came willingly and very quickly to the aid of those impacted by this.

"That will be long remembered. That solidarity and that sense of strong community between the essential services."

'A terrible blow': President Higgins leads tributes to explosion victims

President Michael D Higgins has, this morning, paid tribute to those killed and injured in the tragedy in Creeslough, Co Donegal.

Gardaí have confirmed that ten people are now dead following yesterday's explosion at a service station in Co Donegal.

Rescue crews worked through the night to search for people possibly buried under the rubble with fears of more fatalities.

Writing this morning, President Higgins said, “May I, as President, express what I know will be the shock shared by all people throughout the country on learning of the terrible tragedy which has unfolded in Creeslough, Co Donegal.

People leave St Michael's Church Creeslough after a Mass as emergency services continue their work at the scene of an explosion at Applegreen service station in the village. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

"All of our thoughts must go out to all of those who have been affected. Those who have received news of the loss of a loved one, those injured and, most of all, those who are waiting with anxiety for news of their loved ones.

"This tragedy is a terrible blow to a community that is closely knit and where every loss and injury will be felt by every member of the community and far beyond.

"Special tribute must be paid to those members of the local community and emergency services across the island who have reacted so swiftly to the scene of the explosion and have continued to work through the night.

"All of our best thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost their lives and their families.

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.”

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar shared his sympathies too.

“On Friday the nation’s collective heart stopped when the news broke," he said.

“This unthinkable tragedy happened in a community which we will all be familiar with, to families who were going about their daily lives like we do. This freak accident has left many empty chairs at dinner tables. It is just too hard to fathom.

“The sadness is incomprehensible."

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said, "The bustling petrol station and shop on a busy Friday afternoon is something that people in almost every town can identify with. This is a truly dark and awful event that has numbed the country."

Founder of Applegreen Joe Barrett said Friday was "a very dark day for "Creeslough, for Donegal, for Ireland, and for all of us in the wider Applegreen family."

This is a hugely tragic event, and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased, and to the entire community in Creeslough. I would also like to offer our thanks to the emergency services, and first responders, who are dealing with the incident," he said. 

Mr Barrett said the Applegreen service stations in Cresslough "is at the very heart of the village and contains the local post office and supermarket."

We are providing them with assistance and support locally at this very difficult time."