The heartbroken mum of Josh Dunne fell to her knees in tears outside a courtroom after the man accused of murdering her son was cleared of all charges.
Last Tuesday, George Gonzaga Bento walked free from the Criminal Courts of Justice after a jury found him not guilty. Diane Dunne revealed how the six-week trial made her relive the trauma of Josh’s death all over again.
Although Mr Bento, who had been in custody for more than 500 days, admitted to stabbing Josh, the jury believed his claims that he had acted in self-defence.
Read more: Sister of tragic Josh Dunne says family considering civil action over the teen's death
Within moments of the court registrar reading the jury verdict – which also cleared the Brazilian-born food delivery cyclist of three other charges – shocked and devastated Diane left the
courtroom.
In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, she told us: “When the verdict came, it was like reliving it all again.” A week on from the verdict, Diane’s grief and pain has been compounded by online commentary labelling Josh as someone he was not.
She said “It makes you hurt. He was 16, a child who never was in trouble and just lived for football.
“People doing that, I hope they are never in this situation. People saying this never knew Josh. They don’t know our family and are putting us down. It’s wrong – totally wrong.”
Josh was with his friends in the East Wall area of Dublin planning on getting pizza with on the night of January 26 last year. An incident unfolded after Mr Bento was involved in an initial confrontation with another man on a moped who had stolen his pal Guillherme Quieroz’s bike.
Read more: Sister of tragic Josh Dunne says brother's death 'robbed us all of so much'
Diane added: “Lots of people are saying things online but if I could show the CCTV you see Josh did nothing wrong. He tried to help and protect his friend.
“CCTV footage showed Josh and his friends out walking and cycling their bikes, chatting and laughing with his friends like any other teenagers.
“Josh was never in trouble or any of his friends. They were never known to the gardai. Josh and his friends were not in a gang. They were just friends going to get a pizza.”
As the tragic teenager left his home in Ballymun, North Dublin, on the night he died, he told his mum “I love you”. Those were the last words Diane heard from him. Sitting on a bench at a memorial for Josh across from their home, she told of her ongoing torment of losing him.
She said: “I lost my son, my beautiful son. My life and family changed forever and my children lost their brother. I have been robbed of every birthday, every happy event, every smile, every hug, every dream I had for my son.”
Addressing her boy directly she added: “Josh, I love you with all my heart. I miss you every moment of every day and always will.”
Diane described Josh as the best son a mother could ask for and said he was “a kind, caring, funny, honest, popular, talented young man”.
Read more: Man to leave Ireland after being found not guilty of Josh Dunne's murder
She added: “Josh would light up every room he would walk into with his bright smile and big eyes. Josh had a smile like no other.
“The smile would get him away with anything, with me for a fiver from me. As his sisters and brothers would say, ‘Golden balls has you wrapped around your finger’ as he wore my dressing gown.
“Josh was always helpful to others and would never speak about the kind things he did for people in the community.”
Josh was a talented footballer with a future destined to make it as a professional having played for Bohemians and St Kevin’s. He also had a trial with Scottish Premier Division side Dundee United, but it was interrupted by Covid-19.
Read more: Family of tragic Josh Dunne plan peaceful protest to get 'justice for Josh'
Diane said: “Josh loved football – it was his life. He even went to bed with a ball. Every football manager could not speak highly enough of him.
“His teachers in all of his schools enjoyed having Josh in their classroom. If I rang and told the school that Josh was sick on a given day, the school would respond, ‘Do you think he’ll be OK for tomorrow as we have a match’.”
Next Tuesday Diane and her loyal family and friends are hoping to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the Dail, which will make its way to East Wall.
They want to highlight Josh’s case and the person he was.
Read next:
Delivery cyclist found not guilty of murder of Ballymun teenager Josh Dunne
Body discovered at RTE campus sparks garda investigation
Two men arrested after attempted shooting outside park in Finglas
Social welfare payments will be bumped up in October
Tributes paid to 'true gentleman' Dublin man who passed away unexpectedly
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