Planning permission to develop a new petrol station and shop on the site of an explosion in Creeslough, County Donegal, in which 10 people lost their lives, has been granted by a council.

The blast happened at a service station in the village on 7 October 2022.

A number of objections, including some from victims’ family, had previously been lodged against Vivo Shell Ltd’s application for the development.

In a statement, Phoenix Law’s Darragh Mackin, who represents some of the victim’s families, described the decision to grant planning permission as “morally bankrupt” and indicated that they intend to challenge “every aspect” of it.

There is now an appeal period, which will last for four weeks, whereby any potential objections can be raised with An Bord Plenàla, a body that decides on appeals from planning decisions made by local authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

The application was approved by Donegal County Council.

The application is for the demolition of the existing building and the erection of a new commercial building, which will include a shop, a post office, an off-licence, a store, a deli, toilets and a forecourt.

Other associated site development works listed in the application include a space for a memorial garden.

In their planning proposal, Vivo Shell Ltd said: “it is important that it is acknowledged that this is a very sensitive application insofar as the site is where the awful event of 7 of October, 2022 took place, an event which had a massive impact on the local area and much wider afield and has left families to reconcile the tragic loss of loved ones”.

They said they hope family members of persons who were injured or deceased “will see that much consideration and thought has gone into the application so as to be respectful towards all”.

“It is unfathomable that the Grenfell tower or the Stardust nightclub would be rebuilt. Creeslough is no different,” solicitor Darragh Mackin said.

“Despite the fierce and unrelenting pleas from the families directly affected, the Donegal County Council has placed commercial and business interests above the interests and rights of these families.

“Such a decision will not be taken lying down. Our clients have today signalled their intention to challenge every aspect of this planning decision in an effort to vindicate their rights, and the rights of their loved ones.

“Our clients have today signalled their intention to challenge every aspect of this planning decision in an effort to vindicate their rights, and the rights of their loved ones.”

Creeslough is a small village in the north west of the island of Ireland, about 15 miles (24km) from Letterkenny and 30 miles (48km) from the border with Northern Ireland.

It has a population of about 400 people.

The blast on 7 October 2022 resulted in the highest number of civilian casualties in a single incident in the county in decades.

The victims – four men, three women, two teenagers and a five-year-old girl – were from the village or surrounding areas.

Those who died were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Jessica Gallagher; Martin McGill; James O’Flaherty; Martina Martin; Hugh Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper.