Three children among 10 killed in horrific petrol station blast
A FATHeR and his five-year-old daughter were among those killed in the devastating explosion at an Irish petrol station.
The ten victims, who also included a mother and her 13-year-old son, were named yesterday after the tragic accident in Creeslough, County Donegal, on Friday afternoon.
A man in his 20s is fighting for his life in hospital and a further eight are being treated for injuries.
James O’Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, Martin McGill, 49, Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her 13-year- old son James, Hugh Kelly, 59, Martina Martin, 49, Robert Garwe, 50, and his five-yearthey old daughter Shauna, and leona Harper, 14, died in the explosion at the Applegreen service station.
Mr Garwe and Shauna had been inside the shop to buy a birthday cake for Shauna’s mother when were caught in the tragic blast – which is believed to have been caused by a cylinder of gas in a nearby apartment. They had been given a lift to the petrol station by local farmer Mr Kelly, who was waiting outside.
A friend told MailOnline: ‘It’s a tragedy. She was only going to the shop to get something nice for her mum. And Hughie gave her and her dad a lift to the shop.
‘He waited in his vehicle outside while she and her dad went in. There was a big explosion and Shauna and her father were killed and Hughie also died, despite not even going in the shop.
‘The girl’s mother is absolutely devastated that she’s lost her only child and her partner, Bob, who had been living in Africa before he came to Ireland and has two other children. This is only a small community – this has ripped the heart out of it.’ Teenager leona died while choosing an ice cream from the fridge at the petrol station, which has been reduced to rubble, while Miss Gallagher, a designer who recently moved back to her hometown of Creeslough after spending several years living in Paris, was also among the victims.
Speaking at Sunday mass in the village’s St Michael’s church, Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian said residents were ‘living through a nightmare of shock and horror’.
He added: ‘Over the last couple of days as people gathered in groups to talk about what has happened here these last days, the one word that stands out for me in relation to the explosion is something somebody said, “It is so random”.
‘And what she was referring to was, anybody could have been caught up in that. There’s something deeply shocking and upsetting about what life throws up, can throw up.’ leona’s heartbroken brother, Anthony, paid a moving tribute to her, saying he couldn’t have asked for a better little sister.
‘leona, I love you so much and we all love you so much,’ he wrote on Facebook.
letterkenny Rugby Club also paid tribute to the youngster last night. ‘We are heartbroken to say our worst fears have been confirmed,’ it said.
‘leona was a talented rugby player and an important part of our U14 girls’ team.
‘There are no words that feel strong enough at a moment of deep sorrow such as this. Rest in peace, leona.’
leona was due to have a sleepover at her friend’s house on Friday. The two friends entered the shop just minutes before the blast after finishing school for the week.
‘Her mother is devastated’