Taoiseach and Tánaiste attend Mass for victims and families

TAOISEACH Micheál

Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar visited the devastated village of Creeslough last night to join the community at a special Mass to remember the victims.

Speaking earlier, Mr Martin promised ‘all the services of the State’ will be made available to the community.

He expressed his ‘deepest sympathies’ to the entire community of Creeslough ‘on this darkest of days for Donegal and the country’.

He told RTÉ Radio: ‘It has been extraordinarily difficult and traumatic for people who had long waits, huge anxiety and stress waiting for news of their loved ones.’

He paid tribute to the local emergency services who ‘worked throughout the night’ and praised the role of the North’s emergency services, saying: ‘They came willingly and very quickly. That will be long remembered.’

President Michael D

Higgins said the shock is shared ‘by all people throughout the country on learning of the terrible tragedy which has unfolded in Creeslough, Co. Donegal’.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also expressed his sympathies to the victims’ ‘families, friends and the entire community of Creeslough and Donegal, who have shown huge strength, resilience and unity’.

‘This is a truly dark and awful event that has numbed the country,’ he said.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: ‘We send love and solidarity to the people of Creeslough who this morning woke to incredible sorrow.’

Donegal Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh, who lives just 6km from the village, said: ‘I get a sense now that people need to know people will be around for them.’