President Catherine Connolly will hold a private meeting with bereaved families and survivors of the Creeslough tragedy this evening as part of her two-day visit to Co Donegal.
The meeting will take place amid calls from families and survivors for a public inquiry to run alongside the ongoing criminal investigation into the tragedy that claimed the lives of ten people on 7 October 2022.
Four men, three women and three children aged between five and 59 years of age were killed in an explosion at a service station and apartment complex in the north Donegal village three and a half years ago.
Yesterday evening, the group met Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald alongside the party's Donegal TDs and local councillors in Letterkenny, who are supporting the families' calls.
Following yesterday's meeting, Donna Harper, who lost her 14-year-old daughter Leona in the Creeslough tragedy, welcomed Sinn Féin's backing for a public inquiry and a meeting with the Minister for Justice.
"We're pushing very hard for the public inquiry because it's really important to us. We need to know exactly what happened to our loved ones. We need the fine details," Ms Harper said.
"So far, we're happy with the garda criminal investigation, but again, we're only going to get so much out of that, so it's very important that we get the public inquiry.
"Now is the time that Minister [for Justice] Jim O'Callaghan needs to be sitting down and talking to us. We're hoping that he will give us that moment to talk," she said.
Minister O’Callaghan recently declined to meet the families, saying the garda investigation is at an advanced stage and time is needed for potential prosecutions.
He previously said he would be happy to meet the families following the criminal process and added an inquiry could be considered, if questions remain unanswered after criminal proceedings, inquests and other statutory investigations conclude.
Bereaved families have questioned the time that may take to complete as they seek answers.
Following yesterday's meeting, Shauna Gallagher, who lost her 24-year-old sister Jessica, said the families are continuing with the same request they have made since the explosion - for a public inquiry.
"We feel we're not being listened to or taken seriously by the Government. It's very sad that we're still here, still asking to be listened to and to be heard as families of those who were killed," Ms Gallagher said.
Local government key to strong democracy, says President
Earlier today, President Connolly said in light of challenges and the existential threat posed by "climate change and indeed the normalisation of war," that it is "vital that local authorities are enabled, empowered and resourced" to carry out their work.
Addressing a bilingual civic reception in Donegal County Council, President Connolly said having spent 17 years as a city councillor in Galway, including a year as Mayor of Galway city, she is never in any doubt as to the importance of local government.
"It was an experience that deepened my respect for the work of elected members and indeed the staff of local authorities who work hard to deliver essential services for their local communities.
"My time in local government copper-fastened my view that decisions affecting people's lives should be made as close as possible to those whose lives they impact."
She said effective and representative local government is the bedrock of a stable and robust democracy, as well as being a key means of empowering local communities.
"Now more than ever, in light of the challenges and the existential threat posed by climate change and indeed the normalisation of war, it is vital that both of which are inextricably linked - climate change and the normalisation of war. We cannot talk about one without talking about the other.
"It is vital that local authorities are enabled, empowered and resourced to carry out the work that they know best because they're experts on the ground."
President Connolly cited a 2023 report from the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities that noted 8% of total public expenditure comes from local authorities, compared to the EU average of 23.3%.
She said the full implementation of Donegal’s Climate Action Plan will be essential.
"As a county, Donegal faces significant ecological risks, primarily through increased coastal erosion, flooding, infrastructure damage, and biodiversity loss.
"Donegal has borne witness to the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, which we know are a direct consequence of climate change," she said.
President Connolly said it is approaching seven years since Ireland declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in May 2019 and 10 years since the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were agreed at global level.
"The transformative action needed is now even more urgent as we see the reneging of commitments across the globe," she said.
President Connolly spoke of the issues facing people in the north west county, including the defective concrete block crisis, lack of facilities, challenges facing the fishing industry and the Creeslough tragedy.
She told the assembly that the concerns and sadness of the people in the border county were visible to her during her campaign, she added, however, that their strength and resolve were also clear.
President Connolly said she will be returning to Donegal to visit the Gaeltacht region and the offshore islands of the north west.
She said the Irish language must be fostered and preserved as part of our identity and culture, and she said efforts nationwide to promote the language were a cause for optimism.
The civic reception was addressed by Council CEO John McLaughlin, Cathaoirleach Paul Canning, Cathaoirleach of Coiste na Gaeilge Mícheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig and Councillor Martin Scanlon, while sean-nós singer Clíona Ní Ghallachóir sang an Mhaighdean Mhara.
Towards the end of the event, Cathaoirleach Paul Canning apologised to President Connolly for his broken Irish during his address.
She quickly answered - "Never apologise, déanfaidh muid ár ndíchéal ar son na Gaeilge le chéile - we will do our best together for the Irish language."
This morning, she addressed and opened an International Creative Jam event at the Atlantic Technological University in Killybegs.
That three-day event will see more than 100 young people from France, Ireland, Portugal and Spain to discuss key challenges facing Atlantic coastal communities and discuss and co-create solutions.
President Connolly was due to visit the Cara House Family Resource Centre and the Donegal Traveller Project in Letterkenny this afternoon.
