Case No. 1617Explosion (10 deaths), Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 · Co. Donegal · 7 Oct 2022
Man in his 60s released without charge in Creeslough explosion investigation
A man in his 60s was released without charge after being arrested and questioned about alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the October 2022 gas explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, which killed 10 people. His arrest brought the total number of people detained for questioning in the case to five.
- Reported24 May
- Arrested23 May
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe explosion killed 10 people (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo teenagers and a young child were among the victims (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s was arrested as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the 2022 explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal (irishtimes.com)
- what10 people were killed in the explosion (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man was released without charge (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe suspected gas explosion claimed the lives of people visiting an Applegreen service station and apartments on the same site in October 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe 10 people who died were aged between five and 59 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims included Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims included fashion student Jessica Gallagher (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims included Celtic fan Martin McGill (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims included shop worker Martina Martin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims included Leona Harper (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe explosion destroyed a building complex in Creeslough, Co Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe explosion occurred at a filling station and apartment complex on 7 October 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is led by local gardaí supported by the GNBCI and the HSA (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is co-ordinated from Milford Garda station where an Incident Room is established (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA previous arrest was made last November of a man in his 60s for alleged reckless endangerment who was released without charge (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the North Western Region (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities have been aiding the criminal investigation (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were focused on the gas system at the buildings on the site from the start of the investigation (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn March of last year, two men were detained in connection with the incident, marking the first arrests in the case (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo months later, a man and woman in their 40s were arrested and questioned in relation to the explosion (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man was arrested for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man was questioned about alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere is no suggestion the gas system was tampered with or deliberately damaged (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 May2025Creeslough explosion: Gardaí release man (60s) questioned as part of ongoing investigation
A man in his 60s was released without charge after being questioned about alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. A file will be prepared for the DPP. His arrest brought the total number of people detained for questioning to five. The article also provides the full list of 10 victims and details of the investigation structure.
victim, Robert Garwe, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Garwevictim, Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, 5, female, irish (judged from name)Shauna Flanagan-Garwevictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, James Monaghan, 13, male, irish (judged from name)James Monaghanvictim, Jessica Gallagher, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Gallaghervictim, Martin McGill, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McGillvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Martina Martin, female, irish (judged from name)Martina Martinvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Leona Harper, female, irish (judged from name)Leona Harpersuspect, 60s, male - 23 May2025Man arrested over Creeslough explosion that killed 10 people
Reports a second arrest in the Creeslough explosion investigation on 23 May 2025, names all 10 victims, and confirms a prior arrest last November of another man in his 60s who was released without charge.
victim, Robert Garwe, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Garwevictim, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5, female, irish (judged from name)Shauna Flanagan Garwevictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, James Monaghan, 13, male, irish (judged from name)James Monaghanvictim, Jessica Gallagher, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Gallaghervictim, Martin McGill, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McGillvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Martina Martin, female, irish (judged from name)Martina Martinvictim, Hugh Kelly, male, irish (judged from name)Hugh Kellyvictim, Leona Harper, 14, female, irish (judged from name)Leona Harpersuspect, 60s, male