A bishop has said the people of Creeslough in Co Donegal are "living through a nightmare of shock and horror" after a devastating explosion at a petrol station killed 10 people.
Friday’s blast at the service station is being treated as a "tragic accident" by gardaí.
The huge explosion claimed the lives of four men, three women, two teenagers – a boy and girl – and a girl of primary-school age.
In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, with consent of the families, Gardaí confirmed the identities of the victims.
The fatalities included James O'Flaherty (48), Jessica Gallagher (24), Martin McGill (49), Hugh Kelly (59), Martina Martin (49), and Leona Harper (14).
Catherine O'Donnell (39) and her son, James Monaghan (13) also died in the blast, as did Robert Garwe (50) and his daughter, Shauna Flanagan Garwe (5).
An Garda Síochána continue to investigate all of the circumstances into the cause of a fatal explosion at a premises in...
Posted by An Garda Síochána on Sunday, October 9, 2022
Addressing the congregation during Sunday Mass at St Michael’s Church in Creeslough, Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian said: “At this time, you, the people of Creeslough, are living through a nightmare of shock and horror since the very heart of the community was deeply wounded on Friday afternoon.
“It’s an experience that we are living through together. But we recognise that the trauma is different for every single individual. We hold in our hearts most especially those for whom this is most acute.
“We think firstly of the 10 who have lost their lives and gone to God, and then of those nearest to them who are most cruelly bereaved.
“And then we think of the injured, struggling to recover in body and spirit. We think of everyone, both from the community and the first responders in the public services who have carried the burden of being close to the tragedy as it has unfolded.
“And we remember everyone here in Creeslough, and indeed throughout Ireland and further, who feels helpless and shaken by what has happened.”
He spoke about the randomness of what had happened and the upset caused by seeing what can happen in life.
“Over the last couple of days as people gathered in groups to talk about what has happened here these last days, the one word that stands out for me in relation to the explosion is something somebody said.
“It is so random, they said. And what she was referring to was, anybody could have been caught up in that. There’s something deeply shocking and upsetting about what life throws up, can throw up.
“We ask why did it have to happen here, to this person, that person, why did they have to be there at that awful moment?
“The bereaved and the injured have to carry the awful insecurity of that question. Others of us could easily carry a certain sense of guilt.
“Why was it them and not me who was hit by the randomness of this tragedy? There is fundamentally a terrible realisation that we are not masters of our own destiny.
“We are very fragile, all of us, fragile and vulnerable,” he said.
Ten red candles sat flickering at the front of the altar during the mass.
Investigation
Gardaí confirmed an investigation has been launched and is being coordinated from an incident room at Milford Garda station.
"The Garda Technical Bureau, with assistance from other agencies, will continue to examine the scene, which remains cordoned off. These examinations are likely to continue over the coming days," a garda statement said.
Traffic diversions on the N56 remain in place.
The statement also confirmed that the victims' bodies have been taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where post-mortem examinations have commenced and will continue over the coming days.
Offering an update on those who were injured in the blast, gardaí said a man, aged in his 20s, is in critical condition in St James Hospital in Dublin.
Seven other injured people are being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital, all of whom are described as being in stable condition.
It's believed there were 30 people in the shop and apartments above at the time of the explosion.
The Taoiseach visited the site of the devastation in Creeslough last night.
Post mortem examinations will be carried out over the coming days on the bodies of the 10 people who died in the Co. Donegal blast.
The explosion at a petrol station in Creeslough on Friday is being treated as a 'tragic accident'.
Those who lost their lives include a young girl, a teenage boy and teenage girl, four men and three women who gardai say are local.
