Creeslough planning permission overturned by An Coimisiun Pleanála

Ireland’s national independent planning body has overturned Donegal County Council’s decision for planning permission at the Creeslough tragedy site.

The proposed development was for the demolition of the existing building, and the construction of a commercial building, shop, post office, and off-licence, as well as space for a memorial garden. 

An appeal was put forward in February 2025 by several members of the bereaved families, represented by legal firms, Damien Tansey Solicitors and Phoenix Law Solicitors. 

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An Coimisiun Pleanála ruled that the proposed plan “would be out of character with its surroundings” and would have a “negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider, long-term regeneration and renewal of the village.”

It was also considered by An Coimisiun Pleanála, whom considered the history of the site, that a proposed memorial garden was “inappropriately sited” with pedestrian and traffic movement, raising “serious concern in relation to both the safety for those visiting the memorials and also the inappropriate siting of the memorial within the development (as amended) itself.”

Donegal County Council had granted planning permission to Vivo Shell Limited for a development on the site where 10 people were killed in the Creeslough explosion in October 2022.

However, Planning Commissioner of An Coimisiun Pleanála, Paul Caprani, authenticated that the proposed development would be “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

Applicants had been informed by An Garda Síochána that on-site investigations in respect of the Creeslough tragedy had been concluded.

Prior to the decision, a request by some families of the bereaved for an oral hearing at the meeting had been ruled out by authorities.

An Bord Pleanála had decided “to determine the appeal without an oral hearing” in a letter to Donegal County Council, and said it had concluded that the appeal could be dealt with adequately through written procedures.

The case was due to be decided by July 14. 

Victims of the Creeslough tragedy were Shauna Flanagan-Garwe (5) and her father, Robert Garwe (50), Catherine O’Donnell (39) and her son, James Monaghan (13), Leona Harper (14), Jessica Gallagher (24), Martina Martin (49), James O’Flaherty (48), Martin McGill (49) and Hugh Kelly (59).