Man and woman arrested in connection with fatal Creeslough explosion

The explosion happened at the Applegreen service station in the town on October 7, 2022. It claimed the lives of 10 people.  Picture: NW newspix

Gardaí investigating a fatal explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal in 2022 have arrested a man and a woman.  

The explosion happened at the Applegreen service station in the town on October 7, 2022. It claimed the lives of 10 people. 

On Monday, gardaí said a man and a woman, both aged in their 40s, were arrested for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

They are currently being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at separate Garda stations in Co Donegal. 

On Tuesday, both were released without charge.  Gardaí said the investigation is ongoing with the intention of submitting a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The investigation into the explosion continues to be led by local gardaí in the Donegal Division. It is being supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other agencies including the Health & Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities.

Earlier this year, two men in their 50s were arrested in connection with the explosion. They were later released without charge.

Four men, three women and three young people, ranging in age from five to 59, died in the blast. All of the victims were from the area around Creeslough. 

They were: Catherine O'Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13; Robert Garwe, 50, and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe; Leona Harper, 14; Jessica Gallagher, 24; James O'Flaherty, 48; Martin McGill, 49; Martina Martin, 49, and Hugh Kelly, 59.