Creelough, County Donegal, Ireland – Two men who were arrested in connection with a devastating explosion at a petrol station that claimed the lives of 10 individuals in 2022 have been released without charge. Among the victims was a five-year-old girl, highlighting the tragic toll of the blast on the small village.
The men, both in their 50s, were taken into custody on Friday and released the following day. Irish police, Gardaí, have confirmed that the investigation into the explosion remains ongoing under the direction of their Donegal division. They plan to compile a report for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Creelough, a village in the northwest of Ireland with a population of approximately 400 residents, was deeply affected by the explosion. The victims, consisting of four men, three women, two teenagers, and the young girl, all had ties to the village or its surrounding areas.
The explosion, which resulted in the largest number of civilian casualties in a single incident in the county in decades, has been under intense scrutiny by authorities. Gardaí emphasized their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation, revealing that they had pursued over 1,350 leads and gathered more than 900 statements since the tragedy unfolded.
Following the arrests of the two men, the first in connection with the explosion, questions remain about the circumstances leading up to the blast. Initially viewed as a tragic accident, with a potential gas leak as one theory, the incident has prompted renewed focus on safety measures and regulations in the area. Eight individuals were also hospitalized for injuries sustained from the explosion, further underscoring the severity of the incident and the community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.