'No compassion': Families' anger as Creeslough rebuild plans reaffirmed

A woman who lost her sister and nephew in the Creeslough explosion has implored the company that owns the site of the tragedy not to rebuild the complex.

Ann Marie Boyle’s sister Catherine O’Donnell and nephew James Monaghan were among the 10 people to lose their lives in the horrific blast in October, 2022.

Last week, correspondence on behalf of Vivo Shell Limited - the company seeking to reconstruct the former filling station complex - was submitted to Donegal County Council.

Documents which reinforce the company’s plans to proceed were received by the local authority on September 27 - just ten days before the second anniversary of the tragedy on October 7. 

Vivo Shell Limited had six months from June 12 to respond to a further information request from planners in the local authority. 

“It is just like trampling all over us,” Ms Boyle told Donegal Live. “None of these people have shown compassion or empathy

“Here we are, a few days before the anniversary and it’s all over us again. They are stating that they want to demolish the existing building and to basically rebuilt what was there.

“All of the requests of the bereaved families have been denied and people think that it is acceptable to build another commercial unit here and have some kind of memorial beside it? No compassion, no empathy, no nothing. I can’t comprehend that any individual thinks that this is ok.”

The Lafferty family has operated a convenience store in a temporary location near St Michael’s Church since November 2022.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that it planned to rebuild the complex, which was destroyed by the horrific explosion.

Vivo Shell Limited sought permission for the demolition of the existing b building and the erection of a new building to incorporate a class 1 commercial building; shop; post office; off-licence; store; deli; toilets including accessible toilets; staff welfare facilities; forecourt; replacement of underground storage tanks and pumps; external canopy; associated signage; and all other associated site development works including a space for a memorial garden.

Ms Boyle said: “If they were sincere about a memorial garden, they wouldn’t build a commercial unit again.

“I just cannot fathom how this could happen here. If there are to be commercial units rebuilt then it shouldn’t be on this site. 

“We, the bereaved families, just feel like we get knock back after knock back and we fell as if no-one is listening to us. It’s not that this adds to our anger, but it adds to our grieving process continuously.”

An artist's impression of the complex

Impressions of what the proposed development would look like show an area with 10 light poles close to the road side to commemorate those who lost their lives.

Ms Boyle said: “This should be a proper memorial garden. When we went to stand and wait for our families to be found, all that was laying on top was steel, metal and rubble. Steel poles with lights are just not acceptable. 

“And all we ever ask about the site is that it is not rebuilt and that our loved ones are properly remembered.”

A petition launched earlier this year gathered over 1,400 signatures while 30 submissions were lodged to Donegal County Council against the proposed development - many of whom were by people, such as Ms Boyle, who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

How the proposed memorial would look

In June, Donegal County Council also asked for revised layout, plans and details illustrating the relocation of the proposed post office area to a location adjacent to the proposed commercial unit fronting the N56 and revised details on the relocation of the proposed loading bay area.

in documents submitted last week, a local architect confirmed a number of amendments to the original plans submitted, including that the commercial building will be moved to the south eastern side; a proposed store will be relocated to the rear of the area; and the Post Office remains at the western side of the shop so as to better provide security for the Post Office.

Further correspondence was received from Vivo Shell Limited’s solicitors stating that the company is the registered owner of the property while another company confirmed that it was engaged in the design of the proposed new shop and post office and that it proposed a ‘high graphic image wrap’ be placed adjacent to the commercial unit along the N56.

A submission was previously received from a member of the Duntally Woods Apartment Owners Management Company (OMC) stating that part of the application site was transferred over to the OMC in November 2021 and the Council sough clarification.

A road safety audit was also submitted to Donegal County Council on behalf of Vivo Shell Limited.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said it believed that the proposed development would be “at variance with national policy in relation to control of frontage development on national roads” and recommended a road safety audit be carried out. 

TII said it was of the option that insufficient data was submitted “to demonstrate that the proposed development will not have a detrimental impact on the capacity, safety or operational efficiency of the national road network in the vicinity of the site”.