Schools struggle to cope with boys' deaths

Glen Keegan's primary school was making last-minute preparations for its annual pantomime yesterday when news of the tragedy broke.

The 10-year-old was due to take part in the production of Snow White, and his 6-year-old brother Andrew was expected to be in the audience watching him last night.

Instead, Glen's Scoil Treasa and Andrew's Scoil Carmel were struggling to cope yesterday with the news of the boys' violent deaths.

Scoil Treasa's principal Maurice Curtin promised counselling for pupils and teachers affected by the "latest tragedy" in this south Dublin suburb.

Only last November, two men - one a local - were shot dead in a car in the nearby Carrigwood estate, in a feud between rival drug gangs.

Students who attended Scoil Treasa yesterday - its mid-term break was not due to begin until Thursday - went home with a note from Mr Curtin.

"Following today's terrible tragedy, our school community, staff and pupils are devastated," the note read.

"We will try to arrange professional support for students and teachers in our school and particularly the pupils in Ms Connolly's class. This support will usually consist of talking to the pupils in small groups or [ on a] one-to-one basis."

"We have just been informed ourselves of this tragedy and in these sad circumstances our school production of Snow White is cancelled.

"We will endeavour as a staff to work with you, our parents, so that our pupils can come to terms with this latest tragedy to befall our school community."

A Garda community officer visited the schools during the day to help students and their parents come to terms with the deaths.

Later, children in school uniform gathered at the Garda cordon in Killakee Way asking gardaí and journalists what they knew.

One of Glen's classmates said the school had been putting on a "huge big play" but this was now cancelled: "The teacher said something very sad happened."