The sister of tragic Josh Dunne has revealed her family’s pain over his death, saying: “It has robbed us all of so much.”
Jade Dunne told how this week’s verdict which saw George Gonzaga Bento cleared of the charge of murdering Josh compounded the trauma their family have suffered since he was killed in East Wall in Dublin on the night of January 26, 2021.
The 24-year-old told the Irish Mirror: “It’s just been horrible. I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s almost like that empty feeling.”
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When Josh died, Jade and her brave mum Diane were the only two family members able to see his body in the morgue but they were restricted because of Covid-19 regulations at the time.
She added: “My last time seeing Josh was behind a glass window. We weren’t allowed to bring him home or hug him. We were robbed of. It robbed us all of so much.”
Bento admitted to stabbing Josh twice and the jury found that he was acting in self-defence.
The jury also cleared the 36-year-old of charges for producing a knife in a manner to intimidate others and two assaults causing harm raps.
After walking free from the Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, Bento beamed as he hugged family and his legal team.
And he told reporters he had said “sorry” and he hoped the Dunne family could forgive him one day.
One of Josh’s best pals Paris Thompson, who was with him and called 999 on the night, told how this has been the “worst thing” she’s ever been through.
Paris told the Irish Mirror: “It’s very sad for his mam especially having to go through that for six weeks in court.
“I think we’re all trying to process it. I don’t even feel like it’s sinking in like.”
The 17-year-old, who gave evidence in the trial just weeks before she sat her Leaving Cert, said that “the only place we can see Josh is at a grave”.
Jade also told of the online hate she has been receiving as well as seeing racist social media posts against Josh.
She said much of it is based around misinformation which claims the 16-year-old boy had stolen a bike.
However, Bento was involved in an initial confrontation with another man on a moped who had stolen the bike.
Other youths arrived and got involved in the row but Josh only jumped in when he saw his friend stabbed before he was stabbed twice in the chest.
Jade said: “It’s been the worst thing.
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“A lot of hate is because of an article which made it look like Josh robbed the bike, but that’s a completely different person.”
Josh was a talented young footballer who was popular in his native Ballymun.
Remembering her brother, Jade told us: “Josh was very respectful. He was very gentle, he was only coming out of his shell and it was only the last year of his life that he was actually growing into himself.
“We’ve had people knock on their doors to say Josh has helped their kids from being bullied and stuff, that’s the kind of person who he was.”
Paris added: “He had no interference with the bike. Josh was the kindest person in the world and would do anything for anyone. At times he had too much of a big heart. He was so funny, there was never a day where you wouldn’t laugh with him.”
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