Ireland Case No. 6226Fatal explosion (criminal investigation) · Co. Donegal · 7 Oct 2022
Other people of interest identified in Creeslough fatal explosion investigation
An explosion at an Applegreen service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal, on Friday 7 October 2022 killed ten people, who were aged between five and 59. The investigation is focused on how the gas system at the site was run and maintained. On Friday 22 March 2024, gardaí arrested two men in their 50s from the local area on suspicion of endangerment, and both were released without charge over the following weekend. Files are being prepared for the DPP, and on 24 March 2024 gardaí said they had identified other people of interest and expected to question them.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested22 Mar
3 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ten people died in an explosion at an Applegreen service station in Creeslough.
- The victims were aged between five and 59, and one source says three children aged from five to 14 were in the shop at the time.
- Where
- The explosion took place in Creeslough, Co Donegal, at a complex that includes an Applegreen service station, a convenience store and residential apartments.
- When
- The explosion happened at about 3.20pm on Friday 7 October 2022.
- Cause
- The manner in which the gas system was run and maintained is at the centre of the criminal investigation, and there is no suggestion it was tampered with.
- Investigation
- Local gardaí in Donegal Division lead the investigation, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other agencies, and it is coordinated from Milford Garda station under a senior investigating officer.
- Gardaí have conducted over 900 interviews and followed 1,350 lines of enquiry.
- On Friday 22 March 2024, gardaí arrested two men in their 50s in Co Donegal, and they were detained at separate Garda stations under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- The two men were released without charge over the following weekend, and files are to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Gardaí have identified other people of interest and are expected to question them, while one source says gardaí are planning at least one more arrest.
- Charges
- The two men were arrested over alleged offences of endangerment under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
- Sentence
- Endangerment carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison on conviction.
- Other details
- The Irish Times understands that no planned or deliberate criminal activity is being investigated.
- The two suspects are understood to be from the local area.
49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTen people died in the explosion at the Applegreen service station. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe explosion claimed the lives of 10 people. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAn explosion at an Applegreen petrol station in Creeslough killed ten people. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe explosion was in Creeslough, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe explosion occurred at an Applegreen service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe explosion was at the Applegreen Service Station in Creeslough. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe two men are held at separate Garda stations in Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe explosion occurred in Creeslough, Co Donegal, at the Applegreen service station. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe explosion happened on Friday, 7 October 2022. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe explosion took place at approximately 3.20pm on Friday October 7, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe explosion happened in October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe explosion took place on Friday, 7 October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe manner in which the gas system was run and maintained is at the centre of the criminal investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation is co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is established. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLocal gardaí in the Donegal division lead the investigation, supported by GNBCI and other agencies. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí arrested two males, both in their 50s, on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí have conducted over 900 interviews and 1,350 lines of enquiry. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is led by local gardaí in the Donegal Division, supported by the GNBCI and other agencies. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are planning to make at least one more arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating a further person of interest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men in their 50s were arrested in Co Donegal on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested in connection with the garda probe. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men were arrested for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men were detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at separate Garda stations in Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men have been released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFiles will be submitted to the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation is being led by local gardaí in Donegal Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other agencies. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation is coordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room has been established. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí focused on the gas system at the buildings on the site from the start of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThere is no suggestion the gas system was tampered with. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí have identified other people of interest in the inquiry. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo people arrested the previous Friday were released without charge over the weekend. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA file about possible criminal charges will be sent to the DPP when the inquiry is completed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda inquiry is run from Milford Garda station by a senior investigating officer. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two men are being investigated for endangerment. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTwo males were arrested for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe men were held on suspicion of endangerment. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe men are held for alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThose who died were aged between five and 59. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEndangerment carries a maximum sentence of seven years on conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth men are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at separate Garda stations in Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Irish Times understands no planned or deliberate criminal activity is being investigated. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe two suspects are understood to be from the local area. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe two men are being held on suspicion of endangerment, according to sources. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe explosion killed 10 people. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherEndangerment carries a jail sentence of up to seven years if convicted. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victims named in the article include a five-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTen people died in the explosion. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Mar2024Other people of interest identified by gardaí in Creeslough fatal explosion investigation
Reports that gardaí have identified other people of interest, that two men arrested the previous Friday were released without charge, and that the investigation is continuing with a file to the DPP.
suspect, malesuspect, malevictim, Robert GarweRobert Garwevictim, Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, 5, irish (judged from name)Shauna Flanagan-Garwevictim, Catherine O'Donnell, irish (judged from name)Catherine O'Donnellvictim, James Monaghan, 13, irish (judged from name)James Monaghanvictim, Jessica Gallagher, irish (judged from name)Jessica Gallaghervictim, Martin McGill, irish (judged from name)Martin McGillvictim, James O'Flaherty, irish (judged from name)James O'Flahertyvictim, Martina Martin, irish (judged from name)Martina Martinvictim, Hugh Kelly, irish (judged from name)Hugh Kellyvictim, Leona Harper, 14, irish (judged from name)Leona Harper - 23 Mar2024Creeslough: Two men arrested in relation to explosion released without charge
Adds that two men in their fifties were arrested and released without charge, that files go to the DPP, and that the investigation is led by Donegal gardaí with GNBCI support.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 50s, malevictim, Shauna Flanagan, 5, irish (judged from name)Shauna Flanaganvictim, Robert Garwe, 50Robert Garwevictim, Catherine O'Donnell, 39, irish (judged from name)Catherine O'Donnellvictim, James Monaghan, 13, irish (judged from name)James Monaghanvictim, James O'Flaherty, 48, irish (judged from name)James O'Flahertyvictim, Jessica Gallagher, 24, irish (judged from name)Jessica Gallaghervictim, Hugh Kelly, 59, irish (judged from name)Hugh Kellyvictim, Martin McGill, 49, irish (judged from name)Martin McGillvictim, Martina Martin, 49, irish (judged from name)Martina Martinvictim, Leona Harper, 14, irish (judged from name)Leona Harper - 22 Mar2024Gardai set to make third arrest in connection with Creeslough disaster
Reports the arrest of two men in their 50s over the Creeslough explosion and says gardaí are planning at least one more arrest. The article's headline refers to a third arrest.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 50s, male - 22 Mar2024Two men arrested as part of garda investigation into Creeslough tragedy
First report of arrests in the Creeslough explosion investigation, nearly two years after the incident. Two men in their 50s were detained at separate Garda stations in Co Donegal.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 50s, male - 22 Mar2024Creeslough: Two men (50s) arrested in relation to 2022 explosion that killed 10 people
Reports the arrest of two men in their 50s in the Creeslough explosion investigation, who are being investigated for endangerment under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The investigation focuses on how the gas system was run and maintained.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 50s, malevictim, Leona Harper, 14, irish (judged from name)Leona Harpervictim, Robert Garwe, 50Robert Garwevictim, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5Shauna Flanagan Garwevictim, Jessica Gallagher, 24, irish (judged from name)Jessica Gallaghervictim, James O'Flaherty, 48, irish (judged from name)James O'Flahertyvictim, Martina Martin, 49, irish (judged from name)Martina Martinvictim, Hugh Kelly, 59, irish (judged from name)Hugh Kellyvictim, Catherine O'Donnell, 39, irish (judged from name)Catherine O'Donnellvictim, James Monaghan, 13, irish (judged from name)James Monaghanvictim, Martin McGill, 49, irish (judged from name)Martin McGill