Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy, chairperson of the Enniscorthy Municipal District signing the ‘Book of Condolences’ for the tragedy in France. Pic: Jim Campbell
THE MONTHLY Co. Council meeting paused momentarily yesterday afternoon (Monday) for members and those present in the Council Chamber to sign a Book of Condolences for those who were killed in terror attacks in Paris last week.
The book was organised by Cllr. Barbara Anne Murphy, Chairperson of Enniscorthy Municipal District, on behalf of that district following the death of 17 people in the French capital by Islam extremists.
Terrorists entered the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday last and killed 12 members of staff. Five others were killed in subsequent incidents around the city including a hostage situation at a Jewish supermarket in the Marais district.
Cllr. Murphy said defiantly: “It was terrorism and an attack on freedom of speech. I might not agree with something that people say but I agree with that person’s right to speak their mind. There was no humanity in what happened last week.
“The book will be opened in the Chamber this afternoon and anyone who would like to sign it is welcome to do so as a show of solidarity with the French people.”
It is understood that many of the local schools, including the FCJ Bunclody whose roots are in France, are asking for the book to be brought to their school in order to express their sympathies.
From today (Tuesday) the book will be housed in Enniscorthy Castle where members of the public are invited to come in and sign it.
[Full coverage in this week’s Echo]