“For us this dreadful incident occurred far away but it is all the more poignant given that two young girls, Eilidh Macleod and Laura Macintyre, from one of our schools were involved in the attack.”
He added: “Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of all those affected and we can only hope the others who were injured make a full recovery.”
The comhairle said it will support the MacLeod and Macintyre families, both in Barra and in Manchester, and are ready and willing to assist in whatever capacity it can.
Mr MacDonald said: ““I thank the people of Manchester and the emergency services for all that they have done to help people in their time of need.
“I am confident that, given time, our communities will recover from this barbaric attack on our young people.
“Tony Walsh’s poem ‘This is the Place’ epitomises the resilience and determination already shown by the people of Manchester.
“Communities in the Hebrides stand in solidarity with you and our thoughts will be with you all during the challenging times ahead.”
Comhairle convener writes to Mayor of Greater Manchester
29 May 2017
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has expressed its gratitude to the people of Manchester for their dedicated efforts in helping people caught up in the terror blast which killed 22 victims and injured 116 a week ago.
Despite being 400 miles apart, the two communities are united by the tragedy and the Western Isles is showing solidarity with the city.
Eilidh MacLeod of Barra died in the attack and her friend, Laura MacIntyre was seriously injured.
In a letter sent last week to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, comhairle convener, Norman A MacDonald, said: “People throughout the Outer Hebrides were deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the terrible event in Manchester on the evening of Monday 22 May 2017.”