GIRL & DAD KILLED BUYING BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR HER MAM

CARNAGE IN CREESLOUGH: HUMAN COST OF TRAGEDY HITS VILLAGERS

- EMMA McMENAMY and STEPHEN MAGUIRE

• 10 people are confirmed dead in catastrophe
•  All those who lost their lives from local area

A FIVE-year-old girl and her father were among 10 people killed in the Applegreen Service Station blast. 

They were understood to be in the shop buying a birthday cake for the child’s mum when disaster struck.

A mother and son who called to the shop on the way home from school, and a man using the ATM, were also among those feared killed in the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal.

Gardai last night said the death toll includes four men, three women, two teenagers and a young girl.

A number of the victims named locally included Catherine O’Donnell, 38, and her 14-year-old son James, Jessica Gallagher, 23, and Hugh Gallagher.

Martin McGill, who was in his mid-40s, Hughie Kelly and budding rugby player Leona Harper, 14, are also known to have been killed. All of the victims are from the local area.

Last night Leona’s heartbroken brother Anthony paid tribute to his little sister on Facebook.

He said: “I don’t know where to begin Leona. I couldn’t have asked for a better little sister.

“You would go mad for me putting this up of you now because it’s an old picture of you.

“Leona I love you so much and we all love you so much.”

Her death was announced by Letterkenny Rugby Club, who said she was an “important” part of their U14s team.