A sister of a young fashion designer who lost her life in the Creeslough explosion four months ago has revealed she is “very disappointed” that TG4 decided to go ahead and air a programme about the tragedy despite pleas from families who lost loved ones and others who were injured.
Lisa Gallagher’s 24-year-old sister Jessica lost her life when an Applegreen service station and several apartments were decimated during an accidental explosion in the Co Donegal village.
A number of families of those killed in the explosion objected to the broadcasting of Iniúchadh TG4 – An Craoslach on Wednesday night.
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The Creeslough explosion occurred on October 7 last year and killed 10 people, two of whom were children and left eight hospitalised, one seriously. The explosion resulted in the highest number of civilian casualties in the county in decades.
Jessica Gallagher was in an apartment located to the back of the service station which also had a post office and was the main shop serving the village.
The fashion designer, who had been due to start a new job in Belfast a week after the deadly explosion.
On Twitter, Jessica's sister Lisa Gallagher said: “Very disappointed that TG4 decided to air the programme about Cresslough against family wishes.
“Also disappointed in those who participated in the show if they knew the show was to be aired four months after the incident.”
Ms Gallagher added: In the future, I would be very happy to hear about those who gave assistance. But not now, it is too soon for us all.”
The young woman also retorted to a Twitter follower who said: “Great programme of those who died.” However, Ms Gallagher added: “If your sister had died in it, I doubt you’d be saying that….”
Another Twitter user wrote: "I'm surprised and cross that TG4 went ahead with the Creeslough doc. Ireland is a small country in which broadcasters and citizens were close. There was no urgency or fundamental disagreement. Those affected asked for a decent interval. That small thing could have been conceded."
Another took a different view: "Some of the participants in the programme are relatives or friends of Creeslough victims, so there is a bit of division about it. Everyone is different, some find it therapeutic, others not do."
Mourners at Jessica Gallagher's Funeral Mass at St Michael’s Church in Cresslough were told that, “Jessica, through her life, left many ripples, many ripples of love, affection, kindness, warmth.”
Oil and gas explosion experts from a range of agencies were brought in to help investigate the cause of the blast at the service station.
Gardai have said the explosion appeared to have been an accident.
Experts from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Health and Safety Authority also provided valuable assistance and expert guidance on site, while independent specialists in gas and oil installation failures/explosions were also brought in to assist.
Gardai also conducted routine door-to-door inquiries in the village while all of the rubble from the explosion was brought to a secure location for examination.
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