Solidarity across Ireland with victims of Orlando nightclub shooting

BOOKS of Condolence have been opened in Dublin, Belfast Cork, Derry and Limerick in memory of those killed in Sunday's gun attack on a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, while vigils have also been held across Ireland.

Forty-nine people were killed and more than fifty others injured when a gunman opened fire in the popular LGBT Pulse

nightclub on Sunday.

Signing the book at Dublin's Mansion House on Tuesday morning, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD (pictured) – who was accompanied by Dublin Mayor Críona Ní Dhálaigh and other TDs – said: 

 “The Orlando shooting is painful and harrowing reminder of the struggle for gay, lesbian and transgender equality the world over. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected at this time.”

A Book of Condolence was also opened in Belfast City Hall where Deputy Mayor Mary Ellen Campbell, the city's first openly-gay Deputy Mayor, described the attacks as “a senseless act of slaughter directed at the LGBT community.”

“It's important that we show our support for that community at this time,” she said.

On Monday, hundreds of people took part in a vigil organised by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) on Dame Street in Dublin in solidarity with the victims of the attack.

Other vigils are scheduled to take place in Limerick and Belfast on Tuesday and at Daunt Square in Cork on Wednesday.