County Dublin fire: Books of condolence opened for victims of travellers' site blaze

Books of condolence have been opened in the Republic of Ireland for the victims of the Carrickmines fire.

Ten people, including five children, died in a fire at a travellers' site on Saturday.

The victims were Willie Lynch and Tara Gilbert, their daughters Kelsey and Jodie, Thomas and Sylvia Connors and their children Jim, Christy and six-month-old Mary.

Jimmy Lynch, 39, a brother of Willie, also died in the blaze.

Two adults and a child who were injured remain in hospital.

Books of condolence have been opened in Dún Laoghaire, Dundrum and the Mansion House in Dublin.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh opened the book at the Mansion House which has been signed by the Irish President Michael D Higgins.

Post-mortem examinations of the remains of those who died have been carried out but it is expected to be a number of days before they are officially identified using DNA and dental records.

It is understood the fire broke out at a pre-fabricated building at the site and quickly spread to a nearby unit.

Police forensic officers are due to return on Monday to sift through the remnants of the two burned residential units.

One of them was destroyed in the blaze.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny visited the site on Sunday to offer his sympathy to the families of those who died.

He said flags on government and public buildings would fly at half-mast on the days the victims' funerals take place.

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze but it is not being treated as suspicious.

Prayers were said at Masses on Sunday for the victims and their relatives and members of the public have been leaving flowers and messages of sympathy at the entrance to the site.

A minute's silence was held before the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 qualifying match against Poland in Warsaw as a mark of respect.

Geraldine Dunn, from the Southside Traveller Action Group support group, said the victims' families were in "an enormous amount of shock".

The site remains cordoned off while investigations continue into how the fire started.