'They were a great team' - Donegal father and son laid to rest

The remains of the late Daniel Duffy are removed from St Eunan's Cathedral after requiem mass. A grandson carries a photo of the late Daniel and his son Damian. Photo: NW Newspix

A priest has paid tribute to the family of a Co. Donegal father and son who passed away in a suspected murder-suicide for putting love before their search for justice. Fr Kevin Gillespie spoke at the joint funerals of Daniel and Damien Duffy which took place at St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny today.

A large crowd gathered outside the Cathedral to say a final goodbye to the men who died at their home at Windy Hall on Thursday afternoon.

Gardaí are working on the theory that Damien, 50, smothered his father Daniel, 88, before killing himself in his car at the rear of the bungalow home they shared. Fr Gillespie paid tribute to the remaining members of the Duffy family for the manner in which they approached the recent days.

He said: “It was a profound love with which you, the family, have approached the last few days.” He spoke about how their ‘deep Christian faith’ allowed them to approach it "with equanimity, in a measured fashion, with deep respect and with courage and strength".

The scene at Windy Hall, Letterkenny, where Daniel Duffy and his son Damian lost their lives. Photo: NW Newspix

And he added: “It has transformed the moment into one which, away from unwanted attention, has been lived with the light of love winning out over the instinct for justice."

The coffins of both men rested side by side at the top of the cathedral with pictures of each resting beside bouquets of simple white lilies. The remains of both men had reposed overnight at St Eunan's Cathedral before today's funeral mass.

Neighbours and friends were able to pay their respects to Daniel and Damien after their remains reposed at The Eternal Light Chapel of Rest in Letterkenny on St Stephen's Day afternoon.

From there they were taken to St Eunan's Cathedral, taking a detour to stop outside the home the men shared for 50 years at Windyhall, where their remains were found last week.

Among the mourners were Daniel's surviving daughters, Ann Marie Giles and her husband Eamon, and Jacqueline McCready and husband George, sister-in-law Sandra and brother-in-law Noel, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The men were predeceased by Daniel's wife and Damien's mother Christine, daughter and sister Caroline Callaghan and brother Alan Graham. Fr Gillespie, who was assisted by Fr Michael Carney, quoted Gerard Manley Hopkins including the poem 'No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief.'

He paid tribute to both men, who had worked for the ESB. A guard of honour from former work colleagues waited outside to greet the deceased as the cortege left the cathedral.

Fr Gillespie spoke of the welcome Dan Duffy always afforded visitors, recalling him as a great storyteller and man of great intelligence. He said both men were so close in all they did which made what happened all the more difficult to "understand or accept".

The family dog wandering around at the scene of the tragedy at Windy Hall, Letterkenny where Daniel Duffy and his son Damian lost their lives. Photo: NW Newspix

He said: “Dan Duffy was so much loved as a father, as a friend and as a neighbour. He loved people and he loved company.

"Time and again, it was said if you called to Duffy's for a brief visit, you always stayed longer than intended. Even if you refused the tea, it was placed before you anyway. You would enjoy his storytelling with that great wit.

“His tremendous wit and neighbourliness drew people to him. His great intelligence and his great practical and electrical know-how meant that he was the first port of call for repairs and conundrums of any kind.

"It was a quality shared by Damien and Dan took great pride in Damien’s ability. They were always together, from Damien’s childhood right up to their untimely and unimagined end.

Daniel and Damien did everything together. They were, lifelong, a great team and it makes what has happened all the harder to understand or to accept.

He added that Daniel simply loved Christmas and the most he loved about it was having his own family around in huge numbers for Christmas dinner.

“His heart was open, full of joy, with tremendous generosity. He was a man who loved to be able to give and provide for his family."

From 15 to 65, he worked in the ESB and was instrumental in introducing rural electrification, including helping to bring electricity to Arranmore island. He said Damien was also blessed with great intelligence and had recently been conferred with an Honours Degree in Computer Science.

The remains of both men were led from the church as a grandson of Mr Duffy Snr held the pictures of the deceased. A single floral tribute with the word 'Papa' sat solemnly in Mr Duffy Snr's hearse.

The funeral cortege made its way to the village of Ramelton from where Mr Duffy Snr and his wife Christine, who passed away in 2009, originally came. There they were all buried in the family plot at St Mary's Cemetery.