8 October 2022
Paul Harper, Deputy Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said:
“This is a tragic time for the people and community of Creeslough and the surrounding areas.
On behalf of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, I would like to convey my heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of those who have lost their lives in yesterday’s devastating incident.
Our thoughts remain with those who have been injured and the community as they recover and grieve. We are also thinking of our colleagues in Donegal Fire Service who led this response and the other emergency responders who assisted at the scene.
Yesterday evening at 5:09pm we tasked our Specialist Rescue Team from Belfast along with a Command Support Unit from Strabane to the incident, supporting our colleagues in Donegal Fire Service. Using specialist search and rescue equipment, Firefighters worked with other emergency services into the early hours of the morning in the hope of rescuing survivors trapped in the rubble.
Working in partnership with our colleagues from Donegal Fire Service and with multiple statutory and voluntary organisations, this was a significant multi-agency and cross border response effort.
NIFRS have now left the area and will continue to be available to support our colleagues in Donegal Fire Service during this extremely challenging time. I would like to commend our Specialist Rescue Team, our Firefighters, Officers and Regional Control Operators involved in responding to this tragic incident.
Our thoughts will continue to be with the people of Creeslough and the local emergency responders in the days ahead.”