The Kreslow Tragedy: Victims' Families File Civil Lawsuit

The families of those killed in the explosion in the village of Kreslow, County Donegal, have officially launched a civil lawsuit against the responsible institutions and companies. The legal team representing the victims insists on a full investigation of the tragic circumstances surrounding the incident on October 7, 2022.

Lawyer Dara Mackin from Phoenix Law emphasized that there are still many unresolved questions about the explosion. According to him, the state is delaying the independent investigation, forcing the families to take their own legal actions to seek justice.

Several key defendants are included in the lawsuit: Applegreen Ltd, Donegal County Council, Vivo Shell Ltd, the Utilities Regulatory Commission, and the management company of the Duntally Woods housing complex.

The tragedy claimed the lives of ten people - four men, three women, two teenagers, and a five-year-old girl from the area. Among those killed are Robert Garvey and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garvey, Katharine O'Donnell and her thirteen-year-old son James Monaghan, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, and fourteen-year-old Leona Harper.

Kreslow is a small settlement in the northwest of Ireland with a population of about 400 people, located 15 miles from Letterkenny and 30 miles from the border with Northern Ireland. The explosion became the largest tragedy with civilian casualties in the county in recent decades.

In November 2024, the Donegal County Council voted on a resolution to conduct a public investigation of the incident. Initially, in February, permission was given to restore the gas station, but subsequently, the families of the victims appealed, and the permission was revoked.

The legal representatives emphasize that their main goal is to uncover the full truth about the tragedy and achieve justice for those who died. They insist on a thorough investigation of all circumstances that led to the fatal explosion.

The civil lawsuit includes claims for compensation for personal suffering and loss caused by the incident. The lawyers stress that this is the last opportunity for the families to get answers to their questions about the tragic events.

The case is expected to attract significant public attention, as it addresses important issues of institutional responsibility and public space safety. The outcome may have significant consequences for future investigations of similar incidents.