THE chaplain to the Kerala community in Derry has said the Enagh Lough drownings are being treated as close family deaths.
Fr Joshy Parokkaran was speaking as the bodies of teenagers, Reuven Simon and Joseph Sebastian returned to the city in advance of their joint funeral on Friday. The two 16-year-olds, who were due to start their A-level studies at St Columb’s college today drowned after getting into difficulties on Monday night.
The deaths of the two young men – members of the Kerala community from India - has sparked a huge outpouring of grief throughout the north west. There were emotional scenes as the cortege arrived at St Columb’s parish hall for a wake yesterday. Large numbers of the Kerala community joined local people as they paid their respects.
Fr Joshy said the community was overwhelmed by the support shown to them by local people since Monday’s tragedy. As the cortege returned to the city yesterday, people stopped to show their respects along the road.
“While we were coming from Dungiven to Derry in a procession carrying these two youngsters, I was really touched to see Irish people paying respects and homage along the way to them. There were tears in our eyes because of the solidarity that local people are showing. We do really appreciate that,” Fr Joshy said.
He said the tragedy was being deeply felt across the entire Kerala community.
"The community is heart-broken. There are a lot of people from Kerala who follow the Syro-Malabar Rite and the youngsters were well-known,” he said.
Joint Requiem Mass will take place at St Mary’s church, Ardmore. The parish hopes to stream Mass live to Kerala so that the boys' relations, including their grandparents, can follow the service.
A vigil will also be held in Strathfoyle at St Oliver Plunkett church tonight.
An online fund raising target of £5,000 set up to help the families was surpassed within hours of its launch yesterday. Set up by Jean Rodgers and Mickey Doherty, almost £9,500 was pledged by yesterday evening.
There have also been calls for greater safety measures to be installed at Enagh Lough. A deep water lake Strathfoyle, it is a favourite gathering place for young people, particularly in warm weather. SDLP assembly member, Mark H Durkan, who is a friend of the families, said a review of safety must be undertaken. He said it was clear that existing measures were not adequate.
"We are never going to remove the risk associated with this or any water course. However, we must work to reduce the risk or minimise it. I think it is important we do that with Enagh now," he said.
