Opinion

Prayers and support for the grieving people of Creeslough

The full extent of the tragedy which descended without warning on the small Donegal village of Creeslough, leaving ten people dead and eight more seriously injured, is almost impossible to contemplate.

Although investigations are still continuing, all the indications are that a gas leak was responsible for the massive explosion which ripped through a service station and neighbouring apartments on Friday afternoon.

The carnage which took place in the blink of an eye was devastating, with the fatalities including four men, three women, two 14-year-olds and a girl aged five.

A massive rescue operation followed, and significant credit is due to the emergency services from both sides of the border who responded so swiftly as well as to the ordinary citizens who courageously dug through the wreckage for survivors.

Creeslough is a village of barely 400 residents where everyone knows each other, and visitors passing through on their way to the spectacular coastal regions of Donegal have always been warmly welcomed.

It is hard to know how it can recover from Friday's trauma and it is essential that the Garda inquiries comprehensively establish and make public the full sequence of events without delay.

In the event of gas being confirmed as the cause, it needs to be determined immediately if there is the slightest form of threat remaining either in Donegal or anywhere else in the wake of the catastrophe.

Pope Francis expressed his spiritual closeness to those suffering after the disaster and it will be widely appreciated that he sent his blessing to all the people of Ireland.

President Michael D Higgins spoke for all of us when reflecting the shock felt throughout the country and said that thoughts will go out to everyone connected to Creeslough.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin travelled to the scene to convey his sympathy, and said that on arrival he had been ''greeted with a terrible sadness, reflecting an enormous loss on a scale that no one can comprehend,"

Creeslough's parish priest, Fr John Joe Duffy, made clear at mass in the village on Saturday night that difficult days lay ahead and poignantly said; "I wish there was some easier way, but unfortunately there is not."

Donegal has one of the strongest community spirits in Ireland but the people there will still need all the prayers and support which can be offered as they prepare to bury their loved ones.