BUILDERS held a minute's silence as flowers and tributes were left at the construction site in Australia where two young Irish men lost their lives.
Workers Joe McDermott (24) and Gerry Bradley (27) tragically died on Wednesday when a concrete slab fell on them at an apartment site in Perth.
A tricolour with the message "RIP lads" and floral tributes were laid at the scene on Thursday as arrangements are made to bring their bodies home.
The entire 100-plus workforce of Jaxon, which operated the site, observed a minute's silence in tribute to the young men, who were employed as sub-contractors.
Board members and employees also placed a wreath in their memory.
Mr McDermott, from Omagh in Co Tyrone, had moved to Australia just weeks ago to begin a new life.
Mr Bradley, from near Coleraine in Co Derry, had been in Australia for nearly two years and began his new job only a week ago.
Speaking from Perth last night, John McCrory described him as his best friend who was always laughing and smiling.
He praised the Claddagh Association, a group based in Perth that assists Irish people in crisis, and urged people to support it by making an online donation.
The non-profit organisation has been supporting those affected by the double-tragedy and helping with repatriation arrangements.
"We don't know what to do but they know all the procedures. It just takes the pressure off and we can get on with grieving," he said.
Mr McCrory and his girlfriend shared a house in Perth with Mr Bradley and his girlfriend Shelley Aplin.
"We were just like our own little family here," said the 31-year-old electrician from Portrush, who attended St Joseph's College in Coleraine with Mr Bradley.
"I dropped him off at work that morning. He was just full of life and so happy.
"Things were just starting to go his way. He had so many plans for the future. Everything was just going so well and then something tragic like this happens."
Mr McCrory said some relatives and friends are travelling to Perth to provide support following the tragedy.
Mr McDermott, fondly known as 'Hoss', was a past pupil of Sacred Heart College in Omagh and previously worked at the town's Silverbirch Hotel and Tipplers Bar.
His parents, Tommy and Donna, and sister, Lauren, said: "We are devastated by Joe's death. We will always remember him as the bright and bubbly young man that he was.
"We are so proud of our son, who was so well-known and popular. He was so selfless and touched so many lives."
A church service in memory of the young men is expected to take place next week at St Joseph's Catholic Church in a western suburb of Perth.
It is expected to be followed by a wake and fundraiser at the Irish Club of Western Australia.
The double-tragedy brings to nine the number of Irish deaths in the Perth area in just three weeks.
Days earlier 28-year-old Craigavon man Alan Haughey was killed in a car crash near Perth.
A young women from Dublin who had contracted a virus in Perth, also died this week when her life support machine was switched off.
And a young man from Laytown, Co Meath, who had suffered severe head injuries in a fall from scaffolding while working in Perth, also had his life support turned off.
:: To make a donation to the Claddagh Association visit claddagh.org.au
