Family of teen (14) killed in Creeslough explosion say more can be done to find out the truth

The explosion at the Applegreen service station in Co Donegal happened on October 7th, 2022, and killed 10 people and left eight in hospital.
Family of teen (14) killed in Creeslough explosion say more can be done to find out the truth

Eva Osborne

The family of a teenager, who was one of 10 people who died in the Creeslough explosion, has said more can be done to find out the truth about what happened that day.

An investigation file into the tragedy was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions last September; however, no official explanation has yet been given for the cause.

The explosion at the Applegreen service station in Co Donegal happened on October 7th, 2022, and killed 10 people and left eight in hospital.

Leona Harper was 14 years old when she died, and she would have been celebrating her 18th birthday on Friday.

Leona Harper (14) Photo: Garda Press Office

Speaking on Newstalk, her father, Hugh, said her birthday is an especially difficult day for his family.

"If I only could find the words to describe that. It's very emotional. It's just hard to describe...today being her 18th birthday we sit and we just wondered what would have been for her," he said.

"She should have been in college, she wanted to be a teacher. She had her life planned out, and that just makes it more difficult to try and comprehend her not being here."

Hugh said he and the rest of Leona Harper's family are renewing their calls for a public inquiry.

"Today, again being Leona's 18th birthday, we feel it's a poignant time to reestablish that call," he said.

"We have many sleepless nights with thoughts of that day, and basically to get the answers to stop that from happening again is the most fundamental part of this campaign.

"We don't want to see another family going through this again."

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