Taoiseach may consider statutory inquiry to produce answers for Creeslough families

Families of the ten victims of the Creeslough explosion have received a significant commitment from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, offering a glimmer of hope for uncovering the truth behind the October 2022 tragedy. Following a meeting with the Taoiseach, the families expressed satisfaction with the progress made and the assurances received.

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Martin had given the families a “very good hearing”.

Donna Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona died in the blast at the Applegreen filling station, described the meeting as a "very good hearing" and stated that "a bit of progress made here today." She highlighted that Martin gave the families a commitment to consider establishing a statutory inquiry if existing criminal and regulatory investigations do not yield the answers they seek.

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There had been “a bit of progress made here today”.

Solicitor Damien Tansey, representing the families, elaborated on the Taoiseach's commitment. He explained that if the ongoing inquiries by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Health and Safety Authority, and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities do not provide the necessary clarity, Martin would consider a statutory inquiry, drawing parallels to successful inquiries like those for Grenfell and Stardust.

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if various criminal and regulatory inquiries do not provide answers then he would consider the establishment of a statutory inquiry “that will produce those answers”.

Harper emphasized that the Taoiseach "really did listen to us" and acknowledged the "need for truth" for the families and for Ireland. She contrasted this meeting with previous ones, noting that they received a concrete commitment from Martin, unlike from other officials. While acknowledging it's not a full commitment, she believes it represents meaningful progress. The Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to decide on a file from gardaí regarding the explosion by the end of August.

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He did state that we do need to get the truth, the families need the truth, Ireland needs the truth of what happened that day.