People of Creeslough will 'always remember' those who died in explosion, mass hears
Parish Priest Father John Joe Duffy told the packed congregation at St Michael’s Church the entire community in Donegal felt the loss and pain
The people of Creeslough will “always remember” those who died in an explosion there two years ago, a memorial Mass heard yesterday.
Parish Priest Father John Joe Duffy told the packed congregation at St Michael’s Church the entire community in Co Donegal felt the loss and pain.
The service was held ahead of the second anniversary of the blast that ripped through a petrol service station on Friday, October 7, 2022.
READ MORE: Garda probe into Creeslough tragedy close to completion, Commissioner Drew Harris confirms
Father Duffy said: “We offer this Mass... asking Creeslough to give comfort and consolation to you, their families and loved ones. St Paul said it is a great thing to remember our loved ones, but you remember them every minute of every day.
“We as a community would like to let you know that we also remember them, we will always remember them, and we walk with you in your pain. We cannot take your pain, but we walk beside you. We pray that our presence may give you a little help and a little hope.”
The blast at an Applegreen shop claimed the lives of Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Catherine O’Donnell and her son James Monaghan, 13. Also killed were James O’Flaherty, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Hugh Kelly, Martina Martin and Leona Harper, 14.
The families will gather at the site tomorrow and the church bell will ring out in memory of the victims at 3.17pm, the time of the tragedy.
Earlier this week Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said a file of investigation into the explosion is nearing completion, as nine of the families renewed their calls for a public inquiry into the incident.
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