Bereaved families and survivors of the Creeslough tragedy have said they feel that they are a step closer to a statutory independent inquiry after meeting with three Government ministers for 90 minutes.
More than 20 bereaved family members and survivors met with Minister of Justice Helen McEntee, Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue - who is Donegal based - and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan.
The families are seeking an independent inquiry that will run concurrently to the ongoing garda investigation.
Senior Counsel Damien Tansey said given the scale of this tragedy, it warrants a statutory inquiry that will be a run under the chairmanship of a sitting judge or a retired high court judge, who will have the power to summons witnesses, take evidence under oath, make findings of fact, make adverse findings and resolve conflict where there are opposing accounts of the same events.
Mr Tansey added: "The matter is extremely urgent in that a planning application is currently before Donegal County Council, and it is the view and the concern of the people that we represent, that not a stone on that site is turned or moved until the inquiry, with all of its agencies, explore all of the matters of significance that contributed to this tragedy."
When asked about the response from Ms McEntee in the context of the ongoing garda, Health and Safety Authority and Commission for Regulation of Utilities investigations, Mr Tansey said those three ongoing investigations are dovetailing with one another.
"I suggested to the Minister [McEntee] that there was nothing to prevent the Government deciding on a statutory inquiry that would dovetail with those three inquiries and avoid prejudicing one another so it's within the competence of Government."
He added: "I feel confident that the messaging from the meeting today was so impactful that they were moved in the direction of an inquiry."
Darragh Mackin who also represents those directly affected by the Creeslough explosion said the "families don't have time to give, they want the decision. They want the decision now."
He added: "The question these families ask themselves, has had this happen in Dublin? Would they be here two years later, asking for an investigation?
"The key point of today is this, the minister has not ruled anything out. We now look forward to an urgent decision, because the reality is this time is of the essence," Mr Mackin said.
Shauna Gallagher who lost her sister Jessica Gallagher in the explosion said they "had a very successful meeting with the ministers today and nothing has been ruled out in relation to any further investigation".
Ms Gallagher added: "I think often we talk about the families that lost people, but we have to remember too those who live in Creeslough and the victims who didn't lose their lives but were severely injured, those people cannot be forgotten."
"A [public inquiry] would answer the questions we all have; why this has happened? The criminal investigation will discuss what criminal activity if any was involved. It doesn't answer the questions that we have as to why our loved ones are no longer here, or why people have been injured so severely and are no longer living the lives they lived before."
Hugh Harper, who lost his 14-year-old daughter Leona, also said he felt they were a step closer to an inquiry.
He said the grief has been immeasurable and the suffering unimaginable over the past two years.
Mr Harper said the ministers "took onboard" all of their concerns.
"We're grateful for that and we’re grateful for that opportunity. Well, today is a step closer [to a public inquiry]. It is definitely a step closer with people in that room being able to have their voices heard and their stories told.
"We have gone through a living nightmare since 7 October. Every day it lives with us. This is not just a once off for our family, for all the families involved and the people injured. There’s more to this story than meets the eye. We need all the answers for us to grieve properly and make any attempt to move forward."
"Every day we struggle with not having Leola at home. Our lives have been torn apart. I personally know now what if feels like to be heartbroken.
Áine Flannigan, mother and partner of Shauna and Robert Garwe who died in the explosion, said she missed her daughter and partner terribly.
"I just hope it'll be a really positive outcome with Minister McEntee and that we will get answers and there will hopefully, as time goes on, that there will be an inquiry.
The Creeslough explosion on 7 October 2022 claimed the lives of four men, three women and three children, ranging in age from five to 59.
A statement from Ministers McEntee, McConalogue and Ryan after the meeting stated that "it is important that Government heard first-hand" from those impacted by the explosion.
"The Ministers communicated to those present the strong desire of Government that families get the answers they need in relation to the loss of their loved ones in what was a national tragedy.
"While the Ministers did not rule out a public inquiry it is important that the garda investigation, the HSA investigation and the CRU investigation complete their work."
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