Irish President speaks for country on day of mourning

President Mary McAleese today spoke for the country on the national day of mourning.

"We are sad, shocked, sickened, grieving, disbelieving, outraged, frightened all at once," she said.

The president was clearly moved by the tragedy which claimed the lives of Irish people, including a Cork mother and her four-year-old daughter.

She said: "We only have to look at the photograph of the beautiful faces of Ruth Clifford McCourt and her gorgeous little girl, Juliana, to see with our own eyes the loss which Ireland too has experienced."

She added: "God bless those in the United States, those in Ireland and all those men, women and little children throughout the world who have been personally, profoundly affected by this tragedy.

"May God guide us safely through these troubled days."