Countries around the world have commemorated the three months since the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States. Brian Cowen represented the Government at the US Embassy today.
Meanwhile, the Northern Secretary led a commemoration at Hillsborough Castle this afternoon. A two-minute silence was observed. US Consul Barbara Stephenson accompanied Dr John Reid.
United States' citizens living in Northern Ireland were also invited to the ceremony. More than 70 countries played their national anthems simultaneously at the exact moment the first plane hit the World Trade Centre in New York.
The army band played the Irish anthem at 1.46pm, the time the first plane hit the World Trade Centre on 11 September. This was followed by a minute's silence.
President Bush asked nations around the world, including Muslim countries, to play their anthems to send a message of defiance to the terrorists.
The American anthem was played at Ground Zero in New York and patriotic signs were flashed on screens in Times Square. Latest figures indicate that the attacks killed 3,050 people. It was originally thought that 7,000 people had been killed.
