The father of a teenager killed in the Creeslough explosion has described her as a “little gem”.

Hugh Harper said his 14-year-old daughter Leona was “very special, very, very special”, adding that she would be “very sorely missed”.

Leona was a keen sports enthusiast and the first tribute that came after news of her death was from her rugby club.

But Mr Harper told Co Donegal radio station Highland Radio on Monday that his daughter had many other interests as well.

“Leona was a little gem.

“Very outgoing, very friendly, a lovely person, very quiet, laid-back, loved life, loved the outdoors, walking through fields, going fishing, spending time with friends, going to car shows.”

The teenager was among 10 people who died after an explosion struck the Applegreen petrol station, convenience store and nearby apartments.

Ukraine latest news: Russian bombs rain down on Ukrainian cities – and Putin issues warning to Kyiv

Vladimir Putin says missile strikes across Ukraine are in retaliation for Crimea bridge ‘terrorist’ blast

Sergei Surovikin: Russia’s ‘savage’ new commander in Ukraine – and why his appointment could be an ominous sign of Putin’s plan

Her body was found by a digger driver after a 24-hour search.

Digger driver ‘just didn’t stop until he got her’

Her mother Donna said: “I didn’t personally know the digger driver – a massive thank you to him, because he just didn’t stop until her got her.

“Twenty-four hours before we got her and she was the last taken out.

“The doctors and everything, everybody was amazing, the way they treated the whole scene from start to finish with nothing more than respect.”

Police have said that the cause of the explosion is still being investigated but it is being treated, for now, as a “tragic accident”.

‘She loved Creeslough so much’

Another victim of the explosion was Jessica Gallagher, 24.

Her aunt Dolores told the radio station that she had been “the most beautiful young woman”, adding that she had qualified as a fashion designer and had been due to start a new job in the industry in Belfast today.

“She was so proud of and loved her locality, she loved Creeslough so much.

“And when she was a student in Paris, one of her assignments was to work on something from home and she produced a beautiful picture of Muckish (Co Donegal mountain) in the moonlight.

“We took her remains home yesterday in the moonlight.”

Read more:
Parents hug children at vigil for 10 people killed in Ireland petrol station blast
Girl, 5, and her father were buying birthday cake for mum when they were killed
Rescuer who pulled people from debris says one man was saved by a table

The other eight victims were 50-year-old Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, who were in the shop to buy a birthday cake; 48-year-old James O’Flaherty; 49-year-old Martin McGill; 39-year-old Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; 59-year-old Hugh Kelly; and 49-year-old Martina Martin.

Funerals for Ms Gallagher, Mr McGill and Mr O’Flaherty are scheduled for this week.

Mr O’Flaherty’s wife was a nurse at Letterkenny hospital, the hospital that treated most of those injured in the blast.

Her colleagues lined the road as her husband’s remains were taken by hearse to Derrybeg ahead of his funeral.

Related posts:

Tsunami warnings issued and thousands told to evacuate after powerful New Zealand quake Bolsonaro tells Brazil to ‘stop whining’ over COVID despite world’s second highest death toll ‘Today is the day I will die’ – Nun who opposed Myanmar military says she begged them for mercy Tigray airstrikes force UN flight to abandon landing and turn back, aid workers say Stop ‘malicious hyping’ over whereabouts of tennis star Peng Shuai, says China ‘It’s turning into a military disaster’: Why Putin’s forces are making such slow progress in Ukraine ‘My son needs me so I will be with him’: The children to sick to flee the Russian bombs ‘Pick his words carefully’: World Cup chief hits back at Southgate over ‘issues’ with Qatar hosting NATO chief defends alliance against claim Russia was allowed to ‘trample all over Ukraine’ Vitali Klitschko says it is ‘a big privilege’ to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression Donbas fate hinges on ‘brutal’ war in key city – as ‘endless caravan of death’ uncovered in Mariupol Gunmen kill 15 people after shooting ‘randomly’ in South Africa bar