All 10 people killed in an explosion at a petrol station in County Donegal have been named by police.
The explosion in the village of Creeslough on Friday afternoon left a scene of debris and devastation and claimed the lives of four men, three women, two teenagers and a five-year-old girl.
At a press conference on Sunday, police said the victims are James O Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, Martin McGill, 49, Catherine O Donnell, 39, and their son James Monaghan, of 13, Hugh Kelly, of 59, Martina Martin. 49, Robert Garwe, 50, and their daughters Shauna Flanagan Garwe, five, and Leona Harper, 14.
Image: Leona Harper, 14 years old
Leona was the first to be named as among those killed.
Letterkenny Rugby Club described her as a “talented rugby player” and an “important part of our under-14 girls team” in a post on their Facebook page.
Leona’s father Hugh wrote below the post: ‘The last 24 hours have been hell.
“Leona loved rugby, although she took up boxing this year. But her first love was Letterkenny Rugby Club.”
Image: Five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe died in the blast with her father Robert Image: Robert Garwe, 50
Leona and fellow victim James Monaghan were students at Mulroy College, as were some of those injured in the blast.
Headteacher Fiona Temple said: “We as a school community are devastated to hear of the tragedy and fatal outcome for our two beautiful students and our dear parents.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and the community of Creeslough at this time.
“We are numbed by this overwhelming sadness and will work together to support all members of our school community in the coming days, weeks and months.”
Picture: Catherine O Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13 Picture: Martina Martin, 49
Glenswilly Gaelic Athletic Association published a tribute to Ms Martin, saying the club had been “shocked” to learn of her death in the disaster.
A man in his 20s is in a critical condition in hospital in Dublin, while seven other people are being treated at University Hospital Letterkenny and are described as being in a stable condition.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said on Sunday that the scene of the explosion was still being examined and remained cordoned off.
Image: Hugh Kelly, 59 Image: Martin McGill, 49
Autopsies on the victims have begun and will continue over the next few days, although the results will not be released for “operational reasons.”
Spt Geraghty said: “It’s a huge impact for a small rural community – they were all local people, all very involved in the community, all shopping at their local shop.
“But it’s a very strong community, as you saw here on Friday afternoon … so I’m sure the community will come together and support each other.”
Image: Jessica Gallagher, 24 Image: James O’Flaherty, 48
The Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian, told Sunday Mass at St Michael’s Church that the Creeslough community was “living through a nightmare of shock and horror”.
He added: “Over the past few days, as people have gathered in groups to talk about what has happened here these past few days, the one word that stands out to me in relation to the explosion is something someone said.
“It’s so random, they said. And what he meant was that anyone could have been caught up in it. There’s something deeply shocking and upsetting about what life throws up, can throw up.”
Image: Image: North West Newspix
Spt Geraghty said there had been “very traumatic scenes” on Friday, adding that emergency services staff had come from across Co Donegal and Northern Ireland to help.