Josh Dunne’s mother has told of her relief that her tragic son’s name has been cleared after a bike thief was jailed yesterday.
Diane Dunne was speaking after a two-year sentence was handed down to Gavin Dooner, who stole a delivery cyclist’s bicycle – the theft that led to the incident where Josh was killed. Talented footballer Josh, from Ballymun, North Dublin, died when he was knifed twice in the chest at East Wall Road in the inner city on January 26, 2021.
George Gonzaga Bento admitted to stabbing Josh but walked free last summer when he was acquitted of the murder charge.
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Yesterday Dooner, 22, was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court having admitted stealing an electric bike, worth around €400, belonging to Tiago de Silva. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Guillherme Quieroz, dangerous driving of a moped, driving without a licence or insurance and criminal damage.
As the hearing got underway, prosecuting barrister Kieran Kelly told Judge Martin Nolan innocent Josh had no connection “good, bad or indifferent” with any of the parties and had been in the area for “legitimate business”. Diane, who was present for the hearing with friends, explained she was grateful the record was set straight after Josh’s name was “tarnished” by people on social media.
In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, she explained: “Josh’s name has been cleared today and it was stated in court that he was innocent. His life was taken but I’m not letting anyone take his character.”
Dooner last night began his first jail term but he is likely to walk free in less than 24 months. Heartbroken Diane said: “He started all of this and caused this. But he gets to go home in two years or less.”
The court was shown CCTV of Dooner stealing the electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall. He drove off on a moped with the bike over his shoulder.
Quieroz and Bento, pals with bike owner de Silva, later spotted Dooner and got involved in retrieving the bike. The row kicked off on East Wall Road. Josh and his pals had gone to get pizza in the area but when they got there the shop was closed.
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One witness told gardai that Dooner shouted at the teens: “Back me up.” Another witness explained to investigators the teenagers appeared to be hesitant to get involved.
The court heard Josh held Dooner’s moped as the fight broke out, as the accused punched and kicked Quieroz. Josh did not attack Bento until he stabbed his friend, when the young lad reacted by punching Bento.
George Gonzaga Bento stabbed him twice in the chest. The CCTV footage was shown in court and Josh is seen stumbling back before falling to the ground.
It was the first time Diane watched the harrowing footage. She told the Irish Mirror: “They only went out for pizza and that’s all they did. And it cost Josh his life. It was heartbreaking to see it for the first time. It just felt like we were going through it all again.
"It was traumatising. But I had to see it just for myself. I was ready today to watch it. In that CCTV footage it’s clear he didn’t get involved until the last minute.”
Dooner, of Ravensdale Road, East Wall, Dublin 3, fled the scene.
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Judge Nolan said Dooner – who has 17 previous convictions – initiated the dispute and assaulted the delivery driver. His co-accused Tiernan Ryan, 27, whom the court heard arrived later at the scene in East Wall Road, also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Quieroz.
Ryan, of no fixed abode in Dublin, has 23 previous convictions, including smuggling drugs into prison. He was jailed for nine months.
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