The mother of Creeslough explosion victim Leona Harper says she was lost for words after learning of proposed plans to rebuild a shop where her daughter, and nine other people, lost their lives.
Donna Harper said she was visited about a proposal to rebuild following the devastating explosion in October 2022.
“I was lost for words, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Donna said.
“This is the exact site where I lost my daughter, where nine other people lost their lives, where so many people were injured and so many people traumatised.
“This is one of the biggest disasters to ever hit Donegal and you are going to rebuild on that site.”
“It was a major shock for us as a family,” Donna said.
The visit came just days after two men were arrested and subsequently released without charge as part of the investigation into the explosion.
“This is on the heels of people being arrested and emotions are high with all the families,” Donna said.
The parents of young Leona Harper at last October’s vigil in Creeslough. (NW Newspix)
Donna has expressed her hope that the site can be turned into a memorial garden for families to visit. Her decision, she said, came soon after the agonising 24 hours she waited at the disaster site for Leona to be found. Leona was one of the youngest victims of the explosion on 7th October and the final victim to be recovered the following day.
“In my eyes, it has to be a memorial place because 10 people lost their lives,” Donna said.
“To me, that is a sacred piece of ground, I know exactly the spot that my daughter lost her life in that shop.
“Being there for the 24 hours and witnessing everything that went on, I said very early on to anybody, that they can never rebuild on that site, I had made my views clear very early on to a lot of different people.
“I can’t speak for other families, but there could be a garden with flowers, a bench with the people’s names on it. It has to be a memorial, I’ve never heard of such a disaster happening where somebody would rebuild.”
A petition has been launched this week opposing the reconstruction of the store and calling for victims to be honoured with a memorial.
The campaign is being led by Gemma Heaney, a close friend of the Harpers, who also sang at Leona’s funeral. View the petition here.
Donna said she has been comforted by the support she has received in recent days. “I want to thank people so far who reached out and supported us. It’s nice to see other people’s views on it as well,” she said.
