A joint funeral service will be held in Derry tomorrow afternoon for the two men who died when their boat capsized during a fishing expedition in Co Donegal on Monday afternoon. George Jackson in Derry.
The service for Mr Thomas Boyd and his son-in-law, Mr John January, will take place in Kilfennan Presbyterian Church in the Waterside area of the city.
Mr Boyd (69), a retired tutor, and Mr January (42), a member of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, drowned when their punt overturned off Tramore beach in Sheephaven Bay. Mr Boyd, who is survived by his wife, four sons and one daughter, had fished in the bay for more than 30 years. His son-in-law, who is survived by his wife and two children, had been his regular fishing partner for more than 10 years.
The families' minister, the Rev Rob Craig, said yesterday that the tragedy had devastated a large family circle and that many peoples' thoughts were with Ms Liz January, who had lost both her father and husband in the tragedy.
"The families are numbed by what has happened. It all seems so unreal to them. One minute Tommy and John head off as usual to do a spot of fishing, the next moment their remains are brought back to their respective homes.
"They were very experienced fishermen who knew the Sheephaven Bay waters well. The families just cannot take it in. I knew both men well.
"Tommy was a very even guy, very cheerful, who loved a bit of craic. Before his retirement he was a carpenter and joiner who passed on his skills and expertise to students at the Springtown Training Centre.
"John had been in the fire service for just over 20 years. He was also a qualified electrician and could turn his hand to anything. He was a very talented handyman as well as a dedicated fire officer.
"I visited his colleagues at the Crescent Link fire station this morning and they're all very upset at what has happened.
"His wife, Liz, has lost both her husband and her father in this dreadful tragedy. What has happened is just beginning to hit home, and we all have a very difficult time ahead of us before the funerals.
"Tommy and John were not just in-laws, they were great friends who shared a love of fishing. The families have asked me to pass on their gratitude to the people of Downings and to the local gardaí who were so supportive of them during this tragedy", said Mr Craig.
The fire brigade's assistant area commander, Mr Gerry Warren, said yesterday that the entire staff at the Crescent Link station were shocked by the death of their colleague.
"John was just the best sort of colleague you could have hoped to work with. He had passed all of his statutory exams and last week he passed his staff officers' exam," he said.
"But more than that, he was deeply involved in liaising with young people.
"He was involved in our Outreach programme and in working with local youth in the Duke of Edinburgh and community safety programmes."