A heartbroken family are paying tribute to a teenager after a horror stabbing incident.
Josh Dunne, who was a former Dundee United trialist, died from his injuries after the violent incident broke out on Tuesday night.
The 16-year-old promising footballer has been described as an 'caring and amazing boy' before losing his life and his friends and family gathered for a balloon release in his memory.
Police are investigating the tragic incident which happened at East Wall in Dublin’s north inner-city, reports The Irish Mirror.
His distraught family have now published an emotional tribute to their 'dreamer'.
They said: '‘Josh was an amazing, happy and talented boy who was tragically taken from our lives at just 16 years old.
''Josh’s smile lit up every room he walked into and he had a promising career ahead of him on the football pitch.
''We would like to thank the public for their kind messages of support and the community of Ballymun who have rallied around to support us at this sad time.
"We ask the media to let us grieve in peace.
''We will always remember our Josh as a happy, caring and amazing boy. A dreamer and a do-er."
Josh, from Ballymun in North Dublin, was wounded in the confrontation at around 9.20pm on Tuesday.
The teenager, who played for Bohemians Under-17s, was stabbed at least once and was rushed to the Mater Hospital – but lost his fight for life at around 10pm.
It’s understood a man in his 20s was confronted for trying to steal a delivery worker’s bike – and the two men started fighting each other.
Other delivery workers who were in the area saw what was happening and jumped in to support their pal.
The alleged bicycle thief was being badly beaten – and that is when Josh and other kids intervened.
Shortly after the incident a 23-year-old man, who was being beaten at the start of the incident, also went to the Mater Hospital for treatment – but he had not been stabbed and was not seriously injured.
Another teenager was also badly injured and he was still in hospital last night but is expected to recover.
