Creeslough priest Fr John Joe Duffy has said yesterday’s explosion has broken the heart of the community.
Fr Duffy said the devastation at the Applegreen Service Station was nothing that anybody locally had every experienced before.
“I am just worried as the days and weeks unfold. It’s so surreal and unreal. It’s just heartbreaking and terrible. It was like a fictional movie unfolding before our eyes.
“Nobody expected something like this. It has broken the heart of our community,” he said.
Fr Duffy confirmed he had spoken with the families who had lost loved ones in the tragedy which struck the village just after 3.15pm.
He immediately paid tribute to all those who helped i any way, especially the emergency services who remain at the scene.
He added “People responded immediately even before the emergency services arrived on the scene. They did what they could and you do what you can do in such horrific times.
“The emergency services then arrived and they have worked through the night and have been working thorugh what will be a very slow process. It’s just heartbreaking.”
Fr Duffy asked the nation to keep Creeslough and its people in their thoughts.
“I ask you to keep us in your prayers. It will be tough in the days, weeks and months ahead.”
Prayers will be said at 10am mass this morning to pray and remember all those affected by this enormous tragedy.
