Ireland to observe three-minute silence for tsunami victims
Millions of people throughout Ireland and the rest of the European Union are due to observe a three-minute silence at 11am for the victims of the St Stephen's Day tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
Almost 150,000 people have been confirmed dead following the huge tidal wave, which struck 11 countries from Malaysia to the east coast of Africa.
The body of one Irish girl, Dubliner Eilis Finnegan, was found among the dead in Thailand last night. The 27-year-old from Ballyfermot had been missing from the tourist island of Phi Phi since the massive tidal wave struck 10 days ago.
She had been holidaying with her boyfriend, Barry Murphy, who survived the tsunami. The couple had arrived on Phi Phi just 40 minutes before the wave struck.
Another three Irish people are also missing and feared dead in the south-east Asian country - 29-year-old Lucy Coyle, who was holidaying with her boyfriend in Thailand at the time of the disaster; 23-year-old Michael Murphy from Co Wexford and 31-year-old Conor Keightley, from Co Tyrone.
All public buildings in Ireland are expected to fly the national flag at half mast during today's silence.
Meanwhile, Irish people are continuing to donate unprecedented amounts of money to the relief operation currently underway in tsunami-ravaged areas.
In Dublin, the Lord Mayor's disaster appeal had raised €100,000 by last night and further collections are due to be set up civil offices today, including in Ms Finnegan's native Ballyfermot.
