Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has agreed to meet relatives of those killed and injured in the Creeslough tragedy in Co Donegal.
Families of the victims of the October 7th, 2022, explosion are seeking answers to a number of questions.
The mother of one of those killed in the explosion at the Applegreen Service Station confirmed on Wednesday that the Minister’s office had reached out to them to arrange a meeting.
Donna Harper, who lost her 14-year-old daughter Leona in the blast, said a delegation of relatives will travel to Dublin in the coming weeks to meet O’Callaghan.
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She said: “This is what we have been pushing for and we are so delighted that the Minister has reached out and agreed to meet with us. I was so delighted when I received the email from the Minister’s office.
“We don’t have all the details, but the meeting will happen sooner rather than later and it will take place in Dublin.”
Harper and her husband Hugh briefly met O’Callaghan when he visited Donegal last December.
He promised the couple a further meeting, to include a delegation of relatives of those killed and injured in the blast.
Among the topics expected to be discussed at the meeting is the Minister’s view on a possible public inquiry into the incident, in which 10 people lost their lives.
An update on the Garda investigation into the incident is also expected to be discussed.
Harper added: “Other significant matters will also hopefully be discussed as so many people have so many questions of their own.
“We really appreciate that the Minister has taken the time to agree to meet with us and has recognised the fact that we cannot move on until we get some answers.”
A primary file was sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on September 29th last and a second file is expected shortly.
Earlier this year, the Minister said his opinion was that the Garda investigation into the tragedy must be finalised before any public inquiry could take place.
