Controversial Creeslough documentary debated in the Dáil

The controversy over the proposed airing of a TG4 documentary on the explosion that killed 10 people on October 7 spilt onto the floor of Dáil Éireann this afternoon.

The programme - 'An Craoslach' is due to air on TG4 tonight.

Addressing the chamber Donegal TD Pearse Doherty said some of the Creeslough families were deeply distraught at the fact TG4 is planning to broadcast a documentary tonight.

"A number of the families have directly contacted me. I know they have directly contacted TG4. They are pleading with them not to air this documentary. They believe it's too raw and the garda investigation is still not concluded.

"I know TG4 and the excellent service they provide and the documentaries and nobody in questioning the professionalism, the fact that the families and the tragedy will be dealt with sensitively and the stories of those heroes who were the first responders do need to be told but the families are asking, indeed begging that this is postponed until the garda investigation is over."

He appealed to the Taoiseach to join him to ask TG4 to reconsider this matter.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responded by saying he wanted to extend his condolences to the people of Creeslough who he knew were still mourning and for whom this tragedy was still very raw.

"I would ask TG4 to do is to perhaps sit down with the families concerned, maybe consult with them and having done that make a decision as to whether or not they are going to postpone the airing of the documentary."

He added he was reluctant as head of government to tell any broadcaster what they should or should not broadcast.

"I don't want to get into that space but I do hear what the families are saying and I think we all feel their pain and would ask at the very least that TG4 would sit down with their representatives, discuss the matter and hear their case and try to understand it," he said.

The question of broadcasting the programme was also aired in the Seanad this afternoon by Senator Naill Blaney.

He said he had also been contacted by numerous people over the past 24 hours in relation to the programme which was causing an "awful lot of upset."

He said people that took part in it thought it would not be broadcast so soon.

"As we know there are investigations going on into this tragedy and it is way too soon for something like this to be aired."

He added some in TG4 were expressing the view that they were used dealing with these situations similar to what went on during the Troubles. It's nothing like it and it's too soon."

He asked for support to get the programme postponed and predicted if broadcast it would do untold damage to the families concerned.

"The families were not consulted, it's no way to treat the families involved, it's disrespectful. The consequences will undo an awful lot of processing they have done over the past few months."

National airwaves

The controversy also raged on the national airwaves on Tuesday during RTÉ's Liveline programme.

During it, Áine Flanagan’s brother, Killian Flanagan, said he has contacted TG4 and gardaí to ask that the programme not air while the garda investigation is underway.

Ms Flanagan's partner Robert Garwe and their daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe died following the explosion at the Applegreen service station.

Mr Flanagan said that families were not consulted about the programme, but rather his sister found out from an online article on social media and "hasn’t slept a wink" since last Tuesday as a result.

He added the investigation into the disaster is a multi-agency investigation and Ms Flanagan is holding out for answers as to what happened and why it happened.

He agreed that the community and first responders involved in the documentary are heroes, but "tomorrow night Áine and others will be forced to look at a one-hour documentary revisiting the worst chapter of their existence and seeing and hearing things for the first time and it’s not acceptable".

Speaking on behalf of his sister, he said she is devastated at the prospect of what she is going to see and hear.

This airing on a "State-brand media" was "very disappointing" and more like the actions of how a UK tabloid may treat a victim's family in a tragic case, said Mr Flanagan.

"This should not the first representation of what happened," he added.

"Why they would put the needs of sensationalism ahead of the needs of the victims' families, I just don’t get it".

He also said that when the garda investigation is complete, answers will be provided which people can somehow process.

He said that this then would be the appropriate time to acknowledge the work done by first responders and not at a time when families are trying to move forward.

He added that the idea of it airing the documentary now is "beyond comprehension" and asked why it cannot air in six months' time instead.

He said that the victims' families need more recognition, compassion and empathy at this time as "this is too traumatising three months in to put anyone through at this point in time".

He added that his own family had no awareness that the documentary was being made let alone airing so soon, but he added that some contributors in the documentary had also contacted TG4 to ask that it not be shown.

TG4 statement

Responding in a statement, TG4 said the focus of the documentary 'Iniúchadh TG4 - An Craoslach' is to shine a light on the people of the area who assisted in the rescue at the scene of the explosion.

"It contains interviews with some of those who risked their own lives while bringing others to safety. They speak compassionately and sensitively about the roles they played in helping others in the face of great adversity. The contributors wanted to express their gratitude at how an ordinary community came together at a time of great difficulty to try to assist their friends and neighbours

"Some of those who took part did so with the knowledge of some of those who lost loved ones. The programme shows the utmost respect for those who lost their lives. The programme does not report anything about the victims other than what has already been reported publicly in the direct aftermath of the tragedy."

Their statement added that the company which made the programme, Clean State TV, has a reputation for sensitivity in previous documentaries, with "highly respected former BBC journalist Kevin Magee" as part of the team.