
Major update in Garda investigation into Creeslough explosion
A man arrested by Gardaí investigating an explosion at a service station in Co Donegal in which 10 people died has been released without charge.
Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7 2022 in the village of Creeslough.
The man aged in his 60s was arrested on Friday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
He had been held at a Garda station in the north-western region.
The Garda said he has been released without charge and a file would now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The investigation into the explosion, which ripped through the service station and an adjacent apartment block, is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is in operation.
The inquiry is being led by local Gardaí, supported by a number of different agencies, including Ireland's Health and Safety Authority.
The 10 victims were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh 'Hughie' Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Young man in late teens dies in Co Kildare road crash
A young man in his late teens died after a single vehicle crash involving a pickup truck in which he was a passenger. The incident took place on Barrettstown Road, Newbridge, shortly after 8pm on Thursday evening. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene and the teenager was taken to Naas General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The coroner has been informed and a postmortem is due to take place. READ MORE The driver of the pickup truck, also a male in his late teens, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Tallaght Hospital. The road is closed for an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators, and local diversions are in place. Witnesses to the fatal incident, including those with dash cam footage travelling in the area between 7.45pm and 8.15pm, should contact investigating gardaí at Newbridge Garda station on 045 440180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.


Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Teenage passenger dies in Kildare crash as gardaí appeal for witnesses
A passenger in a pick-up truck has died following a single-vehicle collision in Newbridge, Co Kildare. He died at Naas General Hospital on Thursday night after the incident on Barrettstown Road, which occurred shortly after 8pm. He is the 72nd person to die on Irish roads this year. Gardai said in a statement this morning: 'Gardaí and emergency services responded to the collision involving a single vehicle, a pick-up truck, shortly after 8pm. The passenger, an adult male in his late teens, was taken to Naas General Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.' The local coroner has been informed, and an autopsy is due to take place. Gardaí said the male driver, also in his teens, was taken to Tallaght Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The statement added: 'The road remains closed at this time pending examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place. "Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 7.45pm and 8.15pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí. "Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newbridge Garda Station on (045) 440180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.'


Sunday World
3 hours ago
- Sunday World
Dad with 197 convictions jailed for making bogus calls about bodies floating in the sea
Father-of-three Nathan Coughlan also admitted breaking into and robbing churches during a crime spree over a five year period. A man who made bogus calls to the emergency services about bodies floating in the sea off Co Donegal has been jailed for two and a half years. Father-of-three Nathan Coughlan also admitted breaking into and robbing churches during a crime spree over a five year period. Coughlan, who has 197 previous convictions, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a raft of charges. Today Judge John Aylmer jailed the 28-year old for a total of three years and eight months but suspended the last 14 months of the sentence to encourage his rehabilitation. Some of the sentences handed down were consecutive to eachother as Coughlan had committed some offences while out on bail for making a bogus call to the emergency services. Judge Aylmer allowed him a reduction in sentence for the initial headline sentences because of mitigation. In mitigation, Judge Aylmer said Coughlan had entered a guilty plea to all charges and that he was now using his time well while in prison. He added that Coughlan is turning his mind towards rehabilitation and his addiction to cocaine and that it does appear that he is anxious to deal with that addiction despite not being able to start treatment for addiction just yet while in prison. The charges related to ten different incidents all of which were carried out while Coughlan was either drunk or on drugs. The accused, who is originally from Ennis in Co Clare, is now custody at Castlerea Prison since last October. Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle and state prosecutor Ms Fiona Crawford outlined the litany of charges and details of the incidents. In total, the accused was charged with making three separate bogus calls to the emergency services as well as breaking into four different church buildings on various dates. Coughlan firstly pleaded guilty to making a false report at Single Street, Finner, Bundoran on November 11th, 2019, that a person was on a cliff in horrendous weather conditions which sparked a major rescue alert involving the coastguard, RNLI, fire service, Gardai and ambulance service. A recording of the bogus call identified Coughlan as the culprit by Garda Mark Geraghty and the accused admitted buying a cheap Nokia phone, using it and then throwing it into the sea. Coughlan admitted making two more bogus calls saying a body was floating in the sea at Bundoran on February 21st, 2021 and April 2nd, 2021. Again, the emergency services were launched including the Rescue 118 helicopter while the cost of just the fire service attending was €1,000, the court was told. Coughlan was again identified and when interviewed by Gardai, the accused said he felt ashamed and wanted to get help for what he had done while admitting he was drunk at the time. Garda Doyle along with state barrister, Ms Fiona Crawford, also outlined a number of break-ins and robberies to churches. He admitted entering the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Bundoran on March 7th, 2021 and attempting to steal from four donation boxes after smashing a lock on the church to gain entry. On October 2nd, 2022, Coughlan admitted breaking into the Sacred Heart Church on Station Roa din Mountcharles and causing €630 in criminal damage and stealing €30 from donation boxes. Coughlan caused criminal damage to a house belonging to Fr Patrick Dunne at Church Street in Ballyshannon on September 8th, 2024, when he ripped beading from a window but was spotted by a local woman. He fled the scene but was caught on CCTV and admitted carrying out the criminal damage. The accused also caused €2,700 of damage to stained glass windows when he broke into St Claire's Church in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim on October 3rd, 2024. Damage was also caused to a key lock as well as two candelabras while Coughlan also entered the sacristy of the church and removed the CCTV system valued at €500. When interviewed, Coughlan said it was him but he couldn't really tell as he was 'off his face' on ecstasy and cocaine.' He also pleaded guilty to a number of other burglaries including stealing tools from a house in Kinlough, Co Leitrim and €240 in cash from a cash register at Kernan's Spar at Moorefield in Ramelton on October 1st, 2024. He also admitted breaking into Bundoran Adventure Park on March 6th, 2021 and stealing €1,100 of power tools and causing €400 of damage to windows while he was drunk. Sergeant Doyle said all injured parties had been canvassed but none had made victim impact statements. Coughlan's solicitor, Mr Peter Nolan, BL, instructed by solicitor Rory O'Brien, said he has had a long relationship with Coughlan and that he was resolute at all times about pleading guilty. He said his latest probation is not encouraging and places him at a very high risk of reoffending but that he has been in custody, is now drug-free and is an enhanced prisoner. He gave a background to the accused man's life stating that he left school at fifteen and has had no meaningful employment in his life. Mr Nolan admitted's Coughlan's previous convictions are extensive and the probation report did not show any green shoots but suggested the green shoots are in prison where he is trying to do his best to deal with his drug problem. Coughlan took to the witness box and apologised to everyone he had hurt and admitted that he put himself on a 'self destruct mode.' Although he has not seen his three children for a number of months, Coughlan was adamant that if he stays off the drugs he has a chance of getting back with his partner and seeing his kids once more. Asked by Mr Nolan if he had enough motivation to do this Coughlan replied 'I do, I don't want them going down the same road as me.' And he added 'I'm sorry for what I did, although I never physically hurt anyone, I know the psychological effect it can have. I know it can be mentally and financially damaging and I'm sorry for doing that. 'I had an addiction and my head was just fried. The last thirteen years of my life was getting intolerable and it had to come to an end.' Having sentenced Coughlan to an overall period of two and a half years in prison, Judge Aylmer backdated the sentence to when he went into custody on October 9th last year. He also ordered Coughlan to go under the supervision and direction of the Probation Services including the completion of any residential treatment programme recommended.