Silence for Madrid victims

Three minutes of silence will be observed by the Taoiseach later in memory of the 200 victims who died in the Madrid bombings.

People throughout Europe are due to observe three minutes of silence later this morning in memory of the 200 people who died in last week’s bomb attacks in Madrid.

The EU-wide silence, which will be observed at 11am Irish time, was called by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in his role as president of the EU Council of Ministers.

Mr Ahern will observe the silence with staff from his department at the forecourt in Government buildings.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has also called on workers throughout the country to down tools and support the gesture.