The grieving mother of tragic Josh Dunne yesterday insisted “he should be here celebrating” as his family visited his grave on what would have been his 18th birthday.
Diane Dunne has vowed to keep Josh’s memory alive but as she reached another milestone without him, she admitted: “It doesn’t get any easier.”
Josh was stabbed to death at East Wall Road in Dublin’s north inner city on January 26, 2021.
Read more: Tragic Josh Dunne's football manager says his team fell apart after talented footballer's death
Brazilian food delivery cyclist George Gonzaga Bento admitted to stabbing the 16-year-old but walked free from court earlier this summer after a jury accepted that it was a case of self-defence.
The community in Josh’s native Ballymun in North Dublin has continued to rally around brave mum Diane
and her family. On Saturday, pals of soccer-obsessed Josh – who played for St Kevin’s and Bohemians – had a game in his memory before locals gathered outside the family home where there was a party for him.
And yesterday, on his birthday, mum-of-seven Diane and her family visited his graveside before going out for a meal.
Revealing her ongoing torment, Diane told the Irish Mirror: “It’s very hard, even this morning waking up knowing it’s his 18th birthday and he’s not here.
“He should be here celebrating. We’re now celebrating here without him. It’s so hard.
“Even the other night when his friends were here, it was just like ‘he should be here.’”
And Josh’s broken-hearted mum added: “One minute I’m OK but the next I realise he’s gone.
“You feel it in your chest, realising he’s never coming home.” But Diane also told of her pride she holds for Josh, who is fondly remembered by those who taught and coached him in school and at his football clubs.
She said: “This day 18 years ago, I gave birth to the most beautiful child ever and he made me the proudest mammy every day. He was a gentle soul.”
Meanwhile, Diane’s two youngest children are getting professional support while her older kids continue to struggle with the loss.
The Ballymun woman explained that people don’t see the effect that such a death has on a family.
She added: “People don’t actually see behind closed doors. The two younger ones are still in counselling, but the older ones, I’m seeing them hurting and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“I can console them cause they’re younger, but I can’t console the older ones.
“Nobody sees what it does to a family.”
Since Bento – who spent over 500 days in custody –was acquitted and freed, Diane along with her loyal group of family and friends
have campaigned to keep Josh’s memory alive.
She said: “I’ll never forget Josh. I’m not going to let it go.”
Read more:
- Football tournament to be held in memory of tragic Josh Dunne
Mum of tragic Josh Dunne says she 'relived trauma of his death' during six week trial
- Man to leave Ireland after being found not guilty of Josh Dunne's murder
- Man cleared of Josh Dunne's murder vows to never work as delivery driver again
- Delivery cyclist says 'I'm sorry' after being found not guilty of murder of Josh Dunne
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