Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan has apologised for her tweet in the aftermath of the Creeslough tragedy.
Moments after the news of the explosion in the Donegal village broke out, Ms Madigan took to social media to tweet: "One hopes this isn't deliberate, but it is yet to be clarified! I hope no-one is injured and they find the culprits."
She was condemned for the post.
Many believed it to be insensitive, particularly as more news filtered through of the 10 deaths involved in the tragedy.
She has since deleted the tweet, and appeared on The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk to apologise for it.
“First of all, I shouldn’t have sent the tweet,” she said.
"I was wrong and I want to sincerely apologise for not just sending the tweet but also for the offence caused as a result. I am terribly sorry for that.
"I also want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the entire Creeslough community but especially to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones.
"It’s an unimaginable tragedy that was visited on the people in Donegal and my heart goes out to all of those affected by this absolutely shocking event."
Gardai are currently treating the explosion as an accident.
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