Australian man among 10 killed in Ireland explosion
An Australian man has been identified as one of ten victims who died following an explosion at a petrol station in Ireland.
James O’Flaherty, a 48-year-old who hailed from Sydney, died in the blast which police say occurred shortly after 3pm local time on Friday, October 7 at a petrol station in the village of Creeslough.
The blast levelled the service station building, damaged an adjacent apartment building and shattered windows in nearby cottages.
An additional eight people were injured in the explosion and hospitalised, with one person flown to Dublin in critical condition.
An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s police force, released the names and photos of the ten victims, ranging in age from 5 to 59 years old.
The victims included: James O’Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, Martin McGill, 49, Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, Hugh Kelly, 59, Martina Martin, 49, Robert Garwe, 50, and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, five, and Leona Harper, 14.
James O’Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, and Martin McGill, 49, were among the victims who died in the blast. Images: An Garda Síochána (Facebook)
Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her son 13-year-old James Monaghan, Hugh Kelly, 59, and Martina Martin, 49, were among the victims who died in the blast. Images: An Garda Síochána (Facebook)
Robert Garwe, 50, his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, and 14-year-old Leona Harper were among the victims who died in the blast. Images: An Garda Síochána (Facebook)
Mr O’Flaherty, who was living in Rinclevan, Dufanaghy, will be laid to rest on Wednesday.
He is survived by his wife Tracey and son Hamish.
As police investigate the cause of the blast, superintendent David Kelly said evidence “is pointing toward a tragic accident”.
Irish police superintendent Liam Geraghty said the event has left locals traumatised.
"It was a very, very traumatic scene that people came across," he said.
"It was a very, very confusing, as you can imagine. And there was a lot of debris."
Siobhan Carr, an eyewitness, said the area was covered in ash and “a puff of smoke”.
"And just within seconds, people from the community had just come running up the roads," she said.
"Cars stopped, people getting out of cars running towards the building to see who could help."
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the incident has had a national impact and that the country is in mourning.
"The entire nation is mourning and really shocked and deeply saddened," he said at the cordon surrounding the blast site.
"The young child in the shop loses her life and two teenagers, along with men and women who are going about their lives as well."
“It is a very close-knit community and our heart goes out to them.
“Talking to those on the front line and everyone involved, they were very moved by the extraordinary support they got from the community here almost immediately.
“Many volunteers rushed to the scene to try and do everything they could to help because it was a horrific scene they came upon and we must always remember our emergency services.”
Image: An Garda Síochána (Facebook)