Jim O’Callaghan stands firm on Creeslough inquiry and refusal to meet families

The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, has defended his refusal to meet with families affected by the Creeslough explosion.

Mr O’Callaghan has also reiterated that he will not establish a public inquiry into the October 2022 blast which claimed 10 lives until the criminal justice process has been completed and an inquest has taken place.

The Minister came in for sharp criticism from the opposition after saying recently at a cross-border police conference held by An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in Co Cavan that “my job is not to be sensitive; my job is to ensure that justice is delivered”.

“The only way they will get justice is through the courts,” he told RTÉ radio’s Today with David McCullagh show on Wednesday.

A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to the matter and there is an ongoing Garda investigation into the events of October 7, 2022.

Mr O”Callaghan saud: “I want to ensure that criminal justice process proceeds and is completed…The reason why they want to meet me is because they want me to establish a public inquiry in respect of Creeslough. I said I'm not ruling that out, but I will not establish a public inquiry until such time as the criminal justice process and the inquest has completed.

“In order for justice to be delivered, it can only be delivered through the criminal justice process and inquiries; although lots of politicians and people call for inquiries, they don't deliver justice.”

In a recent television interview, Donna Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona died in the explosion, said that the rejection of a meeting with the Minister was “a slap in the face” for the families.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “As Minister for Justice, and I am a sensitive person, but it's my primary function to ensure that justice is delivered. And the only way that can be delivered is through the courts.

“People sometimes believe that inquiries or tribunals or commissions of investigations provide justice. They don't. They provide means of providing answers to people.

"If we want to get justice, and I want to see justice for the Creeslough families, we need to ensure that the prosecutions, which hopefully are impending, will occur and be completed.

“There's further statutory inquiry ongoing that may lead to a prosecution. I want to see those files processed within the office of the DPP as quickly as possible. And if there are going to be prosecutions, I want to see those prosecutions commencing as quickly as possible. But as you know, I can't interfere in how the DPP does her work.”

Earlier this month, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Donegal TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn met with some of the affected family members.

Deputy McDonald said: “They have questions that are not related to the criminal investigation and that they want to put to him directly. 

“This meeting and, indeed, a public inquiry can take place without compromising the investigation, as confirmed by the former Garda Commissioner. 

“The Minister's predecessor, the Minister, Deputy (Helen) McEntee, met with the families, but that was a year and a half ago. It is only right that the Minister should meet with them now and listen to what they have to say. 

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The Creeslough explosion claimed the lives of five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father, Robert Garwe (50), Catherine O’Donnell (39) and her son James Monaghan (13), James O’Flaherty (48), Jessica Gallagher (24), Martin McGill (49), Hugh Kelly (59), Martina Martin (49) and 14-year-old Leona Harper.