700 attend prayers for siege victims

About 700 people attended a prayer service in Galway this afternoon for the victims of the Beslan tragedy and their families.

More than 340 people, including 155 children, died during the bloody end to the three-day school siege in southern Russia.

Today’s service at St Nicholas Collegiate Church was led by the Church of Ireland Rector of Galway, the Rev Patrick Towers, and the Russian Orthodox priest, Fr George Zavershinsky.

People had been queuing for hours throughout the day to sign the book of condolences at the church

The Church of Ireland Primate, Dr John Neill, sent a letter of sympathy to Fr Zavershinsky.