Funeral for girl and father after Irish explosion

A father and daughter who died in the Creeslough explosion in County Donegal shared a "beautiful love", their funeral Mass has been told.

Robert Garwe and Shauna Flanagan Garwe, the youngest of the 10 victims, were found in each other's arms in the rubble of the service station, their family said.

A priest said Shauna, 5, "made a lasting impression on all she met".

Mr Garwe, 50, was proud of his children and his homeland, Zimbabwe, he added.

The Irish President Michael D Higgins joined mourners for Saturday's service at St Michael's Church in the village, where several of the funerals have taken place.

Irish police said the explosion on 7 October appeared to have been a tragic accident.

As their coffins lay beside each other at the front of the church, Fr John Joe Duffy said the father and daughter had also been "side-by-side in the shop" when the explosion happened.

"Her father I'm sure in that split second just wanting to help and protect his beautiful daughter so very much," he said.

"We pray that they are side-by-side in heaven."

The priest said he had known Mr Garwe and his family.

Shauna was "a beautiful little girl", he said, who loved art and animals.

She had just started as a pupil at nearby Scoil Mhuire weeks before her death and was a "radiant beacon of light, of happiness and joy" to all who knew her.

Robert, known in the village as Bob, had taken his daughter to the shop to buy a birthday cake and treats when the explosion happened.

Throughout the week, eight other funerals have been held, either in the small village itself or the surrounding areas.

By Grainne Connolly, BBC News NI in Creeslough

Two hearses pulled up outside St Michael's Church, one with a little wicker coffin inside.

Young children, some in plain clothing and some in their Scoil Mhuire uniforms, are among the mourners with their parents.

Inside the church, pictures of Shauna and her father with family sit on their coffins.

Ten red candles also remain lit on the altar for the victims of last week's explosion.

In life, Robert and Shauna were always seen in the village together.

In death, their family said they were found in each other's arms in the rubble.

Family from near and far have made the journey to Creeslough to pay their respects.

A guard of honour took place outside Scoil Mhuire before the service. Five-year-old Shauna had only started school there this year.

James O'Flaherty, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan were buried on Wednesday.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the cause of the blast in a building complex that included a service station, convenience store and apartments.

The store, which had a post office, was the main shop serving the 400-strong village.