The father of one of the people who died in the Creeslough explosion has reiterated calls for a public inquiry into the tragedy, which took place three years ago today.
Hugh Harper, father of Leona Harper, made his comments after a commemoration service in the Co Donegal town, in memory of a tragic explosion in which ten people died.
The northwest village came to a standstill shortly after 3pm as bereaved family members, the Creeslough community and gardaí gathered to remember those who tragically lost their lives.
Fr John Joe Duffy of Creeslough read aloud the names of the ten people; four men, three women and three children, ranging in age from five to 59 who died.
They were five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father Robert Garwe, 50, 14-year-old Leona Harper, 59-year-old Hugh Kelly, 24-year-old Jessica Gallagher, 49-year-old Martin McGill, 48-year-old James O'Flaherty, 49-year-old Martina Martin, 39-year-old Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan.
Family members and friends laid wreaths at the site of the service station and apartment complex.
Family members who spoke to RTÉ News reiterated calls for the establishment of a statutory public inquiry alongside the ongoing garda investigation.
Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan who lost her sisters Mary and Martina in 1981 travelled to show support and solidarity with the families of the Creeslough tragedy.
"I am asking the Taoiseach Micheál Martin to give them [the families] a public inquiry…we don't want them going through what we went through 43 years ago," she said.
Mr Harper said the Stardust families have been a great support.
"They have guided us. They have sympathised with us, and we relate to each other, and to have them here today is of great significance," he said.
Mr Harper said they had full faith in the ongoing garda investigation and added it had given them confidence knowing that a file has been sent to the DPP.
He said: "I want to reiterate that I have faith and confidence in their [An Garda Síochána] abilities. We've seen seven arrests to date, through that, there is progression.
"But I believe that the statutory judicial public inquiry is needed to give us answers so that we can finally close the chapter of what happened and grieve our loved ones.
"We're still stuck on 7 October in 2022 - we have not progressed. We need answers. We need answers to be able to close the chapter and progress our own grieving, unfortunately.
"We have called for the establishment of a public inquiry. We're reestablishing that call today. We have faith in the garda investigation, but will it give us all our answers? The answers will provide clarity."
Both Hugh Harper and Anthony Gallagher, father of Jessica Gallagher who lost her lfe in the tragedy, spoke of the importance and significance of today’s gather in memory of their loved ones.
Mr Gallagher said his daughter death has had an "immeasurable" impact on his family.
He believes a public inquiry "would definitely bring closure to the families, not only the families, but also the general public".
Mr Gallagher spoke highly of the support his family has received from the Creeslough community over the past three years.
"I can't speak highly enough of our own community who have gathered around and helped us in immeasurable ways, really and truly. They're fantastic," he added.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said that the "minister's thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and the wider community of Creeslough on the third anniversary of this terrible tragedy".
They said that the investigation into the tragedy, led by An Garda Síochána in conjunction with the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and the Health and Safety Authority, remains ongoing.
They said as there is an ongoing criminal investigation, "the minister cannot comment in detail" and added that "it is important to allow this investigation to reach its conclusion".
"The criminal investigation is the most appropriate place to address all the understandable concerns of the families and the public; be it public safety, regulatory compliance, and/or any potential criminal responsibility.
"It should be noted that where a criminal prosecution is initiated and proceeded with in the courts, such proceedings will be in public. Similarly, any coroner's inquest will be conducted in public," the spokesperson concluded.
