Children who lost classmates in the Co Meath school bus crash are suffering nightmares, sleeplessness and eating problems, it emerged today.
Five young girls were killed and 46 people were injured when their bus overturned in Navan, County Meath.
The makeshift shrine at St Michael's Loreto Convent for four of its pupils killed in Monday afternoon's crash continued to grow today as schoolgirls added more bouquets of flowers and messages.
Francis O'Toole, who is co-ordinating the counselling service, said the 700 students of the school were going through all the emotions associated with tragedy.
"You're talking about shock, what has happened, the pain, the loss of a loved one," he said.
"You're talking about the fear, breaking down, what you say to your friends. There may be anger - is someone to blame for all this? They are the normal stages of grief people will go through and that's going on for students and teachers."
The symptoms reported among students include problems with sleeping, eating, talking and not being able to go the toilet.
Many have also experienced nightmares in the wake of the bus crash. The counselling team, which is drawn from the school, the Health Services Executive and the National Educational Psychology Service, are working to reassure students that the grieving is a normal process.
"We have counsellors working with students, working with small classes. There are also teachers working with groups and counsellors working with teachers," said Mr O'Toole.
"It's important to grieve because if they do it today, they will maybe recover quicker from the whole experience." Some schoolgirls at Loreto Convent were too upset to attend the school for the day and left with their parents after paying a brief visit to the makeshift shrine.
There were dozens of messages for the four Loreto students who died, including one for Claire McCluskey which said: "Hey Claire, my prefect, you took me under your wing when I started.
Now God will take you under his. Love always, Julie."
Another, for Deirdre Scanlon, said: "I can't believe you're not going to be at home when I call for a cup of tea. You're one in a million, I miss you loads already. Ornaith Clarke, sixth year."
Many girls, some in their maroon school uniforms and others in casual clothes, stayed around the shrine and talked to their upset friends. "It's such a shock. No one can really believe it. It hasn't hit anybody yet," said Rosie, a 14-year-old student in second year.
Another friend of hers, Kerry (13) said the teachers at the school had provided great support.
"They've just being going around making sure that everyone is all right and there's counsellors in the school for anyone that needs to talk," she said. The teachers have visited the families of the five victims killed in the bus crash and the injured students still in hospital.
Two are being detained in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan for observation and five are still in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
"Three patients are expected to be discharged from Drogheda today," said a hospital spokeswoman. The female driver of one of the cars involved in the accident remains in a stable condition in the Drogheda Hospital, while the other car driver and the bus driver have been released.
Gardai said they were making steady progress in interviewing and taking statements from the schoolchildren on the bus and other witnesses to the accident. However, Superintendent Gerry Smith of Navan Garda Station said the three drivers involved in the accident had not yet been formally interviewed.
"The bus driver has been released and the other driver is out from hospital as well. The female driver is still in hospital," he said. The bus and the two cars have been removed from the scene for forensic examination, along with sections of the road. Mr Smith said it was still unclear what caused the accident.
"There's a lot of witnesses to be interviewed and a lot of technical evidence to be examined," he said. Loreto Convent will be closed for the next two days, with the funerals of Deirdre Scanlon, Sinead Ledwidge, Claire McCluskey and Lisa Callan taking place tomorrow and the funeral of Amy McCabe taking place on Friday.
A guard of honour will be provided by the school at each funeral and students will sing in the choirs. Businesses in Navan will shut down as a mark of respect during each funeral and a special mass will be held at 2.30pm tomorrow in St Mary's Church in the town.
The decision was taken by Navan Chamber of Commerce following an emergency meeting of its executive committee last night. "Two hours for each funeral is the minimum time but businesses are free to stay shut for longer if they want," said a spokeswoman.
A steady stream of local people have also been signing the Book of Condolence at the offices of Meath County Council in Navan.