More than 1,000 lines of inquiry and 900 statements have been taken by gardaí since an explosion at a service station in Co Donegal killed ten people almost one year ago.
Four men, three women and three young people, ranging in ages from five to 59, died in the blast at a service station in Creeslough on 7 October.
Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O’Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper were all killed in the explosion.
A commemoration service on the first anniversary of the blast will take place at 3pm on Saturday at the site of the tragedy.
A vigil mass will be held at 7.30pm that evening to commemorate those who died or were injured and in thanks for all who responded to the tragedy.
The rescue and recovery effort involved emergency services and members of the community, including a digger driver who was praised by ministers and the victims’ families.
Sympathies were shared from across the world with the tight-knit rural community.
Gardaí previously said the blast was being treated as a tragic accident, with a gas leak believed to be one theory.
As the first anniversary of the tragedy approaches, An Garda Síochána said its investigation is continuing "as expeditiously as possible" to ensure that the circumstances are "professionally investigated".
They said they had actioned more than 1,350 lines of inquiry and taken in excess of 900 statements.
The investigation is being coordinated from Milford Garda Station, with support from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS) and the Garda Technical Bureau.
An Garda Síochána is being assisted by the Health and Safety Authority, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and Norwegian company Det Norske Veritas (DNV), which specialises in investigating and testing energy systems.
A dedicated family liaison officer remains in place for each of the victims’ families, gardaí added.
Read more:
Ten dead, including children, after Creeslough blast
Creeslough concert honours those who died in explosion
Creeslough: Shock wears down but trauma is more acute
