The mother of a teenage girl who perished in an explosion at a service station has formally requested the Irish government to engage in “meaningful talks” with grieving families. These discussions are intended to address the establishment of a public inquiry into the tragic incident.
Leona Harper, aged 14, was among the ten individuals who lost their lives when the Creeslough explosion devastated County Donegal on October 7, 2022. To date, no official explanation has been provided for the explosion’s cause.
Ireland’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration has stated that the ongoing criminal investigation represents “the most appropriate place to address all the understandable concerns of the families and the public.”
Community and Shared Experience
On Saturday, Donna Harper is scheduled to speak at an event in Londonderry. This gathering commemorates the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, an event in 1972 where thirteen civil rights demonstrators were fatally shot by the army in the Bogside area.
Families and campaigners associated with other significant tragedies, including the Stardust fire, the Hillsborough disaster, the Post Office scandal, the Ballymurphy massacre, and Bloody Sunday itself, will convene. Their purpose is to share their collective experiences in the pursuit of truth and accountability for past events.
Harper recounted to BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme her disbelief at finding herself among families whose stories she had previously only encountered through newspaper headlines.
“I grew up in Letterkenny watching and reading about major events like Stardust, Bloody Sunday and Hillsborough,” she stated. “Never in my life did I think I would be standing alongside those families now fighting for justice for my daughter and for the nine other people that died in Creeslough.” She added, “Those families understand exactly what we are going through.”
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Processes
The investigation into the Creeslough explosion is being conducted by Gardaí, the Irish police force stationed in Donegal. They are working in collaboration with the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and the Health and Safety Authority.
Harper has been informed that a remaining component of the case file is slated for submission by the Gardaí to the Republic’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in March. Earlier, in September, a primary investigation file was sent to the DPP by Gardaí, who have reiterated an appeal for any individuals with pertinent information to come forward.
Push for Public Inquiry
In 2024, Donegal County Council formally passed a motion advocating for a public inquiry into the events. Last year, planning permission was granted for a new development on the Creeslough site. However, this decision was subsequently overturned following an appeal lodged by the bereaved families.
Donna Harper stated that she was advised by the Justice Minister, Jim O’Callaghan, that any decision regarding an inquiry would be contingent on the outcome of the Garda investigation. Harper affirmed that the Creeslough families are resolute in their quest for “the truth we deserve.”
“We are coming to a critical time in the Gardaí’s criminal investigation, which I am fully supportive of,” she explained. “Once the file is fully submitted, we will have to wait for direction from the DPP.” She believes the present moment is appropriate for initiating “meaningful talks” concerning the establishment of a statutory judicial public inquiry. “The government have to sit down with us,” she insisted.
Harper articulated that the questions held by the families could not be fully addressed solely through the Garda investigation.
Uncertainty and Unanswered Questions
Leona Harper would have celebrated her 18th birthday in January. The family has not yet received a death certificate for her. Official inquests for all Creeslough victims cannot proceed until the criminal investigation is concluded.
Harper finds strength in the memory of her daughter. “Leona’s life mattered and those nine people mattered, so their deaths have to matter,” she stated. “My daughter was only 14 when she died; she should be here moving to the next chapter in her life. No parent should be left waiting and wondering.”
Historical Precedents and Government Response
Harper referenced the 1987 Raglan House gas explosion in Dublin, which resulted in two fatalities. This incident, she noted, saw a criminal investigation conducted concurrently with a separate government report. “That happened in 1987; we are now in 2026. It shouldn’t be left to the families to figure this out.”
In a statement issued to BBC News NI, the Republic’s Department of Justice confirmed that the Minister had met with Leona’s parents in December 2025 in Donegal. A spokesperson conveyed, “He conveyed his deepest sympathy personally to Mr and Mrs Harper and to all the families of the victims and the wider community of Creeslough.” The statement continued, “In his conversation with Mr and Mrs Harper, the minister spoke of the importance of allowing the Garda investigation to reach its conclusion in the first instance. The DPP is wholly independent in her functions and the minister cannot provide comment on any aspect of the DPP’s work.” The spokesperson also assured that both the inquest and any subsequent criminal proceedings would be conducted in public.
The Garda investigation team has issued a renewed appeal, urging anyone who was present at the building before the explosion to come forward and speak with them.