TAOISEACH Michéal Martin was among those to pay tribute to two teenage boys who drowned after getting into difficulty at a lough in Co Derry.
Reuven Simon and Joseph Sebastian, both 16, had been swimming at Enagh Lough on Monday evening when tragedy struck.
The boys had been in a larger group who stopped off at the lough while cycling in the area.
They were pupils at St Columb's College in the city.
The bicycles the boys had been riding remained beside the lough on Tuesday which has been cordoned off by police, while some locals visited the small jetty to leave flowers in tribute.
Mr Martin expressed his deepest sympathies saying "our hearts go out to their families in terms of the unimaginable grief that they are suffering.”
He added: "We can all imagine young people going out to enjoy a beautiful summer's afternoon. And for it to end in such tragedy, people availing of and using a water amenity, which we've all done in our different times," he told reporters in Monaghan.
St Columb's College was opened yesterday to provide support for the class mates of two teenagers.
Both boys had just completed their GCSEs and were due to start Year 13 and their A level studies later this week.
St Columb's principal Finbarr Madden said everyone was "shocked and saddened" by the tragedy.
"No words can express the devastation that we feel as a school community but first and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with both boys' families, community and friends," he said.
"This will be a very difficult time for the whole St Columb's family and in the coming days it will be important that our pupils are with people they know and trust."
He said they will be providing support for the students.
The PSNI said officers were called shortly after 6.25pm on Monday to reports of a number of people in difficulty in the water.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said a rapid response paramedic, five emergency crews, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance officer were dispatched.
NIAS also tasked the air ambulance to attend.
One of the boys was taken from the water but later pronounced dead in hospital.
The body of the second youth was recovered late on Monday night following extensive searches by Foyle Search and Rescue and police divers.
Another male was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries not believed to be life threatening, while three others have been left shocked, police said.
Mark Deeney, Western Area Commander for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said their thoughts are with the families and friends of the boys those affected.
He said firefighters were called to the scene at 6.31pm, and deployed a number of fire appliances and a specialist Water Rescue Team.
"On arrival we were informed that two teenage boys were missing in the water approximately five metres from the end of a jetty," he said.
"Members of the Water Rescue Team from Crescent Link immediately entered the water and, supported by other personnel, were able to recover one of the boys within 20 minutes.
"He was transferred to hospital by NIAS but sadly did not survive."
The search continued for the second boy, and his body was recovered just before midnight after an extensive search.
He added: "Despite the tragic outcome I would like to commend the efforts of our crews at the scene who worked tirelessly in an attempt to rescue the boys.
"Working in partnership with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Foyle Search and Rescue, everything possible was done to give them the best chance of survival.
"We are continuing to support our crews today and indeed our colleagues in our Regional Control Centre with specialist debriefs following this challenging incident."
PSNI's Inspector Brogan said: "Inquiries are ongoing into this incident but we believe, at this stage, that this was a tragic drowning incident.
"Our thoughts are with the families of those affected."
