Northern Ireland

Tunisia attack: Book of condolence opens in Belfast

Belfast Lord Mayor Arder Carson signs a book of condolence at city hall for the Tunisia attack victims
Belfast Lord Mayor Arder Carson signs a book of condolence at city hall for the Tunisia attack victims Belfast Lord Mayor Arder Carson signs a book of condolence at city hall for the Tunisia attack victims

A BOOK of condolence for the victims of the Tunisian terrorist attack has opened in Belfast.

Lord Mayor Arder Carson was the first to sign the book, which opened in city hall yesterday in memory of the victims of the attack at a beach resort in Sousse.

Three Irish people, Laurence and Martina Hayes from Co Westmeath and Lorna Carty from Co Meath were among the 38 people killed.

It came just a week after a book of condolence was opened at city hall for the six Irish students killed in a balcony collapse in Berkeley, California.

Mr Carson said the book had been opened "for the city to express its condolences and sympathy to all those families who lost their loved ones in the horrific event that happened in Tunisia".

"It is important that we say as a city to all those people who lost loved ones that Belfast is standing with them shoulder to shoulder at a time with which must be unbearable grief."

Sharon McKnight from east Belfast was the first member of the public to sign the book and described the attack as "absolutely horrifying".

The book will be open until Friday.

Books of condolence have also been opened in the Republic. People have been contributing messages of sympathy to the family of Co Westmeath couple, Larry and Martina Hayes, in a book that will remain open in Athlone Civic Centre until 4.30pm today.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is also operating an online book for nurse and mother-of-two Lorna Carty, from Robinstown in Co Meath. She was holidaying with her husband, who was recuperating from heart surgery, when she was killed in Friday’s attack on the holiday resort of Sousse.

Meanwhile, Belfast couple Robert and Wilma McKenzie, caught up in the attack, have described their narrow escape.

"I had just taken a couple of pictures when pandemonium broke out on the beach," Mr McKenzie told UTV.

"People were running out of the water and others were screaming ‘get off the beach’ - it was just confusion.

"At that stage we had no idea what had happened."

Mrs McKenzie said: "I just have to be thankful that we are safe. Only now, when we see the news, do we realise how lucky we were.

"God was looking after us, bringing us home to the family. It could have easily been us.

"We are really blessed."