The family of a Dundee man brutally murdered in an Alyth home have paid tribute to him as an “outgoing and cheerful” father who would do anything for his children.
Peter Whyte described his brother John Donachy as a “grafter” who loved fishing and the outdoors and moved to the Perthshire town for a quieter life four years before he was killed by Murray Fotheringham and Lee Winters.
The 26-year-old was a father to five children — sons Kayden and Kian, daughters Shontay and Leah, and baby Brogan, who died when she was just weeks old.
Mr Whyte said: “There was only one John, he would do anything for anybody. He would give you his last penny, he was really that generous. He was always up for a laugh and he was a bit of a rebel but he was loyal.”
Mr Donachy had been working to repair a motorcycle at the time of his death and his family said they were determined to get on and finish the job for him.
His cousin Jenny described him as a “really good dad” who “did everything he could” for his children and enjoyed going camping with his family.
“He loved the outdoors and some of the family would go out in the summer time and have great fun fishing, canoeing and just watching the nights draw in,” she said.
“He could get speaking to anyone. He would walk into a room full of strangers and by the end of the night, he’d have their phone numbers and they would be his best pals.
“Two days before he died, we were up sledging. A whole lot of us went because the schools were off with the snow being so bad.
“We decided to take the sledge up the back hill and I said to him, ‘Okay, John, you can run up with the bairns’. I know he had such a great time.”
