Oldest victim in Ireland petrol station explosion was in remission after cancer battle

The oldest victim of the petrol station explosion in Creeslough, Ireland had been in remission following a battle with cancer.

Mourners lined the main street of the village to pay respects to Hugh "Hughie" Kelly, 59, on Friday for the seventh funeral in a week following the tragedy in Ireland.

Ten people lost their lives and a further eight were left seriously injured when an Applegreen service station and surrounding buildings were destroyed by a huge blast.

The most senior of them was Mr Kelly, a carpenter and farm worker who was popular within the local community.

Speaking at the service, Father John Joe Duffy said Mr Kelly was "a man who enjoyed a good time, a happy man and a cheeky grin, a man who the family knew and loved so well".

Ten people lost their lives and a further eight were injured when an Applegreen service station exploded (PA)

The congregation was told he grew up in nearby Doe as the youngest of five siblings, and enjoyed spending time at the medieval castle there as a child.

The priest described how in later years Mr Kelly often had a dog with him, and would quip: "I didn't look for him, but he found me."

An emotional moment came when Fr Duffy told mourners of Mr Kelly's battle with cancer, from which he was in remission.

Mourner's at 'Hughie's' funeral heard how he had recently entered remission from cancer (PA)

The priest said: "He was someone who had determination, and he had lots of close scrapes, particularly in recent years with his cancer where he was up and down to Galway for treatment"

"He was battling that very well and just three weeks ago he was in Galway again for a check-up where he was in remission. That was such happy and good news."

It was also revealed that Mr Kelly had brought two other victims of the blast, Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, to buy a birthday cake for her mother when the tragedy struck.

The 59-year-old's funeral was the seventh to be held this week following the tragedy (PA)

Shauna was the youngest victim killed in the explosion. Hugh and Donna Harper, the parents of 14-year-old victim Leona, also attended the service.

Fr Duffy told mourners on Friday that families were still in shock, numb, and "we still do not know what we are feeling".

"We are a community that is carrying a broken heart, but together we will work together to help us through this darkness and grief.", he commented.

The funeral service for Shauna Flanagan Garwe and Robert Garwe will take place in St Michael's Church on Saturday morning.