Widow of man killed in Creeslough explosion sues over fatal blast

Sunday World

2 days ago

James O'Flaherty was 48-years-old when he lost his life in the explosion which occurred at 3.17 pm on October 7th 2022.
Emergency services at the scene after an explosion at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal Pic:Mark Condren 8.10.2022
Mourners at the funeral mass of Creeslough victim James O'Flaherty at St Mary's Church Derrybeg. Photo by Steve Humphreys12th October 2022.
THE WIDOW of a father-of-one killed in the deadly Creeslough explosion has initiated a personal injury case in the High Court.
Papers were lodged before the High Court on June 17th by solicitors Damien Tansey on behalf of James O'Flaherty's widow Tracey O'Flaherty naming 11 parties to be summonsed.
The parties include Danny and Annette Lafferty, the siblings who owned the petrol station destroyed in the explosion, Applegreen, Vivo/Shell Ltd, the Duntally Wood apartment owners management company, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, the Registrar of Gas Installers of Ireland and Donegal Co. Council.
Two other named individuals and an architecture company have also been summonsed.
Mourners at the funeral mass of Creeslough victim James O'Flaherty at St Mary's Church Derrybeg. Photo by Steve Humphreys12th October 2022.
Contacts from the Sunday World with solicitors Damien Tansey Solicitors did not elicit a response this week.
The company, which has offices in Dublin and Sligo, is known for its expertise personal injury claims and says it helped clients 'win some of the largest compensation payouts through the Irish courts.'
James O'Flaherty
News in 90 Seconds - July 26th
James O'Flaherty was 48-years-old when he lost his life in the explosion which occurred at 3.17 pm on October 7th 2022.
Mr O'Flaherty, was originally from Sydney in Australia, but was living with his wife Tracey and son Hamish in Dunfanaghy, a village about 10 minutes' drive from Creeslough.
12-year-old Hamish was sitting in Volvo in the service station forecourt when the explosion demolished a shop, filling station and a block of apartments.
Emergency services at the scene after an explosion at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal Pic:Mark Condren 8.10.2022
In total, the explosion caused the deaths ten people and left eight hospitalised.
Investigators later identified an accidental gas leak as a possible cause.
At Mr. O'Flaherty's funeral mass, tribute was paid to the caring husband and father by Fr Brian O Fearraigh.
He said Mr O'Flaherty lived for his wife Tracey and son Hamish.
"James showered his loving son and wife in hugs and kisses every day," he said.
"James O'Flaherty was a generous and a kind man. He loved chatting to other people and he just wanted to spend all his free time with you - his family.
"He had honesty and integrity in abundance.
"He was a man who had high morals which I'm told are traits and values that he shared with his late father."
Hamish described his father as a "great man", who worked "very hard and very long each day".
"He wore a jacket with a huge paint stain on the side of it everywhere. He managed this by leaning on a wall which was still wet with paint," he said.
"He wore the jacket everywhere. To the shops, to the movies, to the beach."
He urged mourners to "cherish" their families.
"Be grateful, for they won't be there forever… Use the time you have wisely," he said.
A gardai investigation into the circumstances of the deadly explosion continues.
A total of six arrests have taken place but no charges have yet been brought against any individual.
Earlier this month, at the July Plenary meeting of Donegal County Council, 100% Redress Councillor Tomas Sean Devine submitted a motion calling on Donegal County Council to purchase the site where the explosion by way of negotiation with the owner or with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).
The motion also asked the Council to sit down with the bereaved families and design a memorial garden in memory of all those affected.
However, the motion did not pass and councillors will instead hold a workshop about the future of the site.