The grieving wife and son of a man who went into the Creeslough filling station to pay for his fuel but died in the blast were consoled yesterday at his wake.
Engineer James O’Flatherty – remembered as “quiet and humorous” – lost his life in the Applegreen explosion, suspected to have been caused by a gas leak, in Donegal on Friday. Dublin Live has learned that James had pulled in to get fuel and went to pay inside the shop while his boy Hamish stayed in the car.
Tragically James lost his life but his son managed to get away from the carnage uninjured. Yesterday, Hamish and his mum Tracey were comforted at a wake for James at the Eternal Light Chapel of Rest in Letterkenny, less than 30 minutes drive from Creeslough.
A guard of honour was formed by Tracey’s colleagues from Letterkenny University Hospital, where she works as a nurse, outside the building as tragic James’s coffin was carried out to the hearse. People were seen crying, hugging each other while others just bowed their heads in silence.
Tracey and brave Hamish got into the same car as the coffin and travelled to Roarty’s Funeral Home in Derrybeg. James’s remains will then be removed tonight to the family home in Dunfanaghy to repose overnight.
His funeral Mass takes place tomorrow in St Mary’s Church, Derrybeg at 11am, with burial afterwards in Magheragallon Cemetery. James is originally from Sydney in Australia but had settled in Dunfanaghy with his family. Dr Dan Gill, who lives in Donegal, was good pals with James and they had built their homes quite close to each other.
Dr Gill said: “He was a lovely man, quiet. Humorous. He was from Australia. I’m also half-Australian and actually moved home from Australia to Dunfanaghy. He had lots to talk about. He was very attached to his son Hamish, they were always around together.
“He had those wide-brim hats that Australians would wear during the summer. They would be walking through town, it’s just terrible really.”
Dr Gill found out that James had died when he got to the scene on Friday and told how people were left “traumatised” and “numb”. In Creeslough yesterday, the village continued to mourn as people passed through St Michael’s Church to sign a book of condolence while some just stopped by to pray.
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Just beside it is where the body of another victim, Martin McGill, lay in repose at his home as crowds trickled through throughout the day. Martin’s coffin will be brought to the church for his funeral Mass at 2pm today. The 49-year-old had been a carer for his mum and he was also a massive Celtic fan.
His funeral notice read: “The tragic death has occurred, in Creeslough, of Martin McGill. Sadly missed by his mother Mary, sisters Marie Louise and Caroline, brothers in law, Mathew and Iain, nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. Predeceased by his father Joseph.”
Yesterday, funeral details of Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her 13 year-old son James Monaghan – who both died in the blast – were also announced. Their remains reposed at their home at the Race Course, Kilmacrennan from 6pm yesterday ahead of the joint service at 2pm on Wednesday in St Michael’s Church.
It also emerged that tragic Catherine had lost her baby girl and James’s sister, before their own tragic deaths. The funeral notice read: “Catherine will be sadly missed by her beloved daughter Sinead, mother Margaret, partner Charlie Flood, brothers, sisters, extended family and friends.
“Predeceased by her baby daughter Paige, and her father Edward (Ned). James will be sorely missed by his beloved father Chris Monaghan, Grandparents, Charlie, aunts, uncles, extended family and friends. Predeceased by his sister Paige.”
No funeral arrangements have yet to be released for Robert Garwe, 50, his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Leona Harper, 14, Hugh Kelly, 59, or Martina Martin, 49, who all lost their lives in the accident. Eight others remained in hospital with one man in his 20s fighting for his life last night. Archbishop Eamon Martin also visited the area on Monday, where he spoke to gardai and a number of people who were first on the scene.
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He said: “Like many people all over the country and all over the world we’ve been stunned by the tragic and horrific events here at Creeslough on Friday afternoon. I wanted to come here to express my concern, my love for the people here and also our deep gratitude to so many people who helped particularly on Friday evening and on Saturday to try to do what they could to recover, to rescue and to comfort all of those who are grieving or were injured. Words are really not enough, sometimes you just have to be here and be present, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
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