Hundreds of people went to St Ann's Church of Ireland church in Dawson Street, Dublin, yesterday to sign a book of condolences for the families of the two murdered English schoolgirls, Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.
Poignant messages included some written in Spanish and Italian as visitors also expressed their sympathies. Many carried a simple message: "Our thoughts, our prayers are with you." In one message the writer said: "I do not know what to say. They are both in Heaven right now."
Speaking at the church Ms Patricia Antoniades from Ashbourne, Co Meath explained her reasons for coming. "Because I'm a parent and I've a 13-year-old daughter," she said.
Her daughter, Victoria, put her arm around her mother as she became emotional, while explaining: "I've watched and she's watched [as the story unfolded\] and what those families must be going through."
Victoria signed for her mother because "I feel very sorry for the parents". Ms Antoniades said that expressing their condolences was "a very small sign, just to let the families know the support there is for them". The disappearance and murder of the two girls had a major impact on her attitude to her daughter. "I'd like to keep her indoors for the rest of her days."
Another woman from Rathgar, Dublin, who declined to be named said that "as a mother with children of my own it doesn't bear thinking about what those parents are going through".
Those who sympathised included visitors from the US. "I feel terrible for their families and what happened and I just wanted to say I'm sorry," said Ms Catherine O'Sullivan from Boston.
Mr Eric O'Byrne, from south Dublin said: "It was the most horrific thing I've heard of in a long time and it's touched the hearts of people not just in Ireland and England but all over the world". He said "you hear about murders all the time but this is the most depressing I have heard of in a long time. It's horrible to think what those families have to go through."
People wishing to add their names to the book may do so weekdays, between 10 a.m.and 4 p.m.
