After Leona Harper’s passing, the Letterkenny Rugby Club posted a memorial to the “brilliant rugby player” and stated that their “worst fears have been verified.”
Leona Harper has been identified as one of the ten victims of the explosion that occurred at a Donegal gas station.
In a Facebook post, Letterkenny Rugby Club paid tribute to a “skilled rugby player” and “a vital member of our U14 girls’ team.”
The club stated, “We are heartbroken to confirm our worst thoughts… to Leona’s parents, Hugh and Donna, her brothers Anthony and Jamie, and all of her teammates, we extend our greatest sympathies and support.”
“There are no words that feel adequate in this moment of profound sorrow.
“Rest in peace, Leona”
Jessica Gallagher believed to be in her early 20s, shop employee Martina Martin, Catherine O’Donnell, and her son James, and Hughie Kelly have all been identified as victims of Friday’s explosion.
Four others, including a little girl in elementary school, were also murdered.
The prime minister of Ireland, Micheal Martin, visited the scene and stated that “the entire nation is in mourning” following the tragedy.
He continued, “A young girl dies at a store, along with two adolescents and men and women who were going about their business… Some members of the emergency services had been at the store earlier. It merely demonstrates what life can offer without warning… The occurrence is very startling and awful.”
On Friday, an explosion swept through an Applegreen gas station and convenience shop in Creeslough, inflicting considerable damage, including to neighboring houses and vehicles, according to the police.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, however, police have stated that no additional casualties are expected.
A Garda spokesperson also stated that there are no ongoing reports of missing persons.
Superintendent David Kelly of the Milford Gardai stated at a news conference on Saturday, “At this stage, as a police force, we must have an open mind as to how we investigate this, but our current knowledge points to a terrible accident.”
As a garda, I must take a comprehensive and global perspective, but that’s where we’re headed at the present.
According to Gardai, the explosion caused the highest number of civilian casualties in the region in decades.
Mr. Kelly stated previously, “This is a tragedy for our community. There are ruined families.
“On behalf of myself and my colleagues who were there at the site, I extend our deepest condolences.”
John Joe McGowan, chief ambulance officer for the western district of Ireland’s national ambulance service, stated that Creeslough’s emergency services cannot be adequately described in words.
“You have all gone above and beyond in your reaction,” he remarked, adding special gratitude to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance for their assistance.
“We will continue our efforts and collaborate with the gardai and fire department until all recovery attempts have been completed.”
After assisting with the rescue effort following the explosion, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has already departed Creeslough.
A digger and sniffer dogs have been employed to sift through the wreckage, and a trailer has been used to haul away the rubble.
At one point on Friday evening, all machinery was shut down and bystanders were instructed to maintain complete silence as rescue workers searched for lives beneath the wreckage.
Within seconds, ash blanketed the area.
After announcing three deaths in the wake of the disaster, Irish police reported seven more deaths on Saturday.
No clue has been provided regarding the explosion’s likely cause.
Siobhan Carr, a witness to the explosion, stated, “Within seconds, the area was blanketed in ash and a cloud of smoke.”
“From there, we ran out to see what had transpired, and within seconds, people from the community were racing up the road, cars had stopped, and people were from their vehicles and running towards the building to see who might assist.”
It is an incomprehensible tragedy.
Leo Varadkar, the deputy prime minister of Ireland, stated, “This unfathomable tragedy occurred in a neighborhood we are all familiar with, to families going about their daily lives as we do.
This unusual mishap has left several supper tables with empty chairs. It is simply unfathomable.”
President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland stated, “This tragedy is a tremendous blow to a tightly connected community, where every loss and injury will be felt by every member of the community and beyond.”
The explosion tore out the center of this community.
The founder and CEO of Applegreen, Joe Barrett, stated, “This is an incredibly unfortunate tragedy, and I would want to extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, as well as the entire Creeslough community.”
“We are absolutely surprised and saddened by yesterday’s events. I would also like to extend our gratitude to the emergency services and first responders who are addressing the situation.”
Donegal TD Pearse Doherty stated, “Not only did this explosion rip the heart out of this structure, but it also ripped the heart out of this community and caused a tremendous amount of devastation.
“Tsunami of sorrow”
Saturday morning, in Creeslough’s local church, the congregation was informed that there was a “tsunami” of mourning in the village.
Father John Joe Duffy stated, “From our hearts, with all of our hearts and all of our souls, we pray for those who have perished, we pray for those who have been hurt, and we pray for everyone involved… We continue to pray for those who have been assisting there since yesterday.
“We also pray for the deceased family members, as well as those who are still awaiting news.
“We hold all of them dearly in our hearts.”
In a tweet, British Prime Minister Liz Truss expressed her sorrow and sadness at the dreadful loss of life in Donegal.
