Dubliners sign book of condolence for Orlando shooting victims

HUNDREDS of people have visited the Mansion House in Dublin’s city centre to sign a book of condolence dedicated to victims of the Orlando mass shooting.

Tragically, 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, in what was the most deadly mass killing in US history.

In the immediate aftermath of the killings, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, announced that a book of condolence would be placed in the Mansion House to give Dubliners a chance to pay their respects to the victims.

“I am opening a book of condolence to allow the people of Dublin to express their sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives early on Sunday morning and to offer solidarity to the LGBT community,” Cllr Ní Dhálaigh said.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was among the signatories of the book this morning, declaring that Ireland as a nation would stand with the victims and their families.

“Ireland supports and stands by the American people in the wake of these senseless killings, and in particular with the LGBT community in the United States”, the Taoiseach said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved arising from this outrage.”

We spoke to some of the other people who signed the book this morning.

Tracey Byrne, South Dublin: “I am gay and I think that this was a crime that was really against the LGBT community. It’s horrific what happened so I just felt that I had to do something.”

Marcio Santiago, Dublin 1: “I’m very touched by the story as a gay man. It’s really sad because I don’t understand why people are still doing this to us. Just leave us be; we just want to be a part of our society and we all have our problems.”

Brian Cushen, Dublin 8: “I just wanted to do it to show solidarity with the people of Orlando.”

Joe Brown, Windy Arbour: “I just had to pay my condolences because it’s just innocent people of different ages killed for no other reasons than intolerance and hatred. It doesn’t matter what you’re a member of because it’s someone this week and it’s someone else the next.”

David Jordan, Walkinstown: “I just wanted to express my sympathies to all of the innocent victims. It’s pretty much all I could do.”

Eimear Scallion, Swords: “Obviously it has affected everyone and I wanted to feel like I could do something when there’s very little you can do. It’s also in support of the lesbian and gay community, just to show solidarity and that we’re all one. It doesn’t matter what your preference is in any respect; everybody has a right to life.”

Pauline Scallion, Swords: “The fact that we were given the opportunity to come in and sign this book means a lot to me. We’ve been to Orlando and it’s such a nice a place so for innocent people to be struck down like that is just appalling.”