Donna Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona perished in the catastrophic Creeslough service station explosion, has issued a heartfelt plea to the Irish government for immediate commencement of substantive discussions regarding a statutory judicial public inquiry. The October 2022 disaster in County Donegal claimed ten lives, yet despite the passage of over three years, no definitive explanation has been provided regarding the explosion’s cause.
Harper will address a significant gathering in Londonderry this Saturday, coinciding with the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The event will unite families from multiple historical tragedies—including Stardust, Hillsborough, the Post Office scandal, Ballymurphy, and Bloody Sunday—creating a collective platform for sharing experiences in pursuing truth and institutional accountability.
In an emotional interview with BBC Radio Foyle, Harper expressed her unexpected transition from observer to activist: “I grew up in Letterkenny witnessing these major events through media coverage. Never did I imagine I would stand alongside these families, now fighting for justice for my daughter and the nine other victims.”
The ongoing investigation involves collaboration between Donegal-based Gardaí, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, and the Health and Safety Authority. Harper has been informed that the final segment of the case file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in March 2026, following an initial submission last September.
Despite Donegal County Council’s 2024 motion endorsing a public inquiry and subsequent planning permission reversals for redevelopment at the site, the Department of Justice maintains that the criminal investigation remains the “most appropriate avenue” for addressing concerns. Minister Jim O’Callaghan has emphasized allowing the Garda investigation to conclude before considering further actions.
Harper remains steadfast in her pursuit of transparency: “We are approaching a critical juncture in the criminal investigation, which I fully support. However, the questions we hold require answers beyond what this process alone can provide. The government must engage with us directly.”
The Harper family continues to await Leona’s death certificate, as full inquests cannot proceed until criminal investigations conclude. Donna Harper draws strength from her daughter’s memory, asserting: “Leona’s life mattered, those nine people mattered, and consequently their deaths must matter equally. No parent should endure this perpetual state of waiting and uncertainty.”
Referencing the 1987 Raglan House gas explosion precedent where parallel investigations occurred, Harper emphasizes: “That occurred nearly four decades ago. We cannot burden families with determining the appropriate path forward in 2026.”
The Department of Justice confirmed the Minister’s December 2025 meeting with the Harpers in Donegal, where he expressed profound sympathy while maintaining the DPP’s operational independence. Gardaí continue to solicit information from individuals present at the site prior to the explosion.