Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20409Murder (stabbing); theft; assault causing harm; dangerous driving · Co. Dublin · 26 Jan 2021

Two men jailed over theft and assault in Dublin teen stabbing

On 26 January 2021, Gavin Dooner, then 20, stole an electric bike belonging to delivery driver Tiago Da Silva outside Lidl in East Wall, Dublin, and got into a confrontation with delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and Brazilian George Gonzaga Bento. Josh Dunne, 16, who had cycled to the area with friends to buy pizza, was stabbed twice in the chest by Bento, who claimed self-defence. Dooner was arrested in February 2021 and Tiernan Ryan, 27, was arrested later that year; Bento was acquitted of murder in summer 2022 after a jury accepted his self-defence claim. In February 2023, Dooner pleaded guilty to theft, assault causing harm, dangerous driving and criminal damage and was jailed for two years, while Ryan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was jailed for nine months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted28 Jan
  6. Sentenced21 Feb
    4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gavin Dooner stole an electric bike worth around €400 belonging to delivery driver Tiago Da Silva outside Lidl in East Wall and drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder.
  • Dooner got into a confrontation with delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the stolen bike, and Dooner and Ryan punched and kicked Quieroz.
  • Josh Dunne, 16, who had cycled to the area with friends to buy pizza, was stabbed twice in the chest by Bento, who said it was in self-defence.
  • Earlier that night Dooner drove his moped dangerously around the North Strand area pulling wheelies and at Summerhill in Dublin 1 smashed windows of a house causing €1,000 damage.
Where
The stabbing occurred at East Wall Road in Dublin's north inner city.
When
The incident occurred on 26 January 2021.
Investigation
Dooner was arrested in February 2021 and Ryan was arrested later that year.
Charges
Dooner pleaded guilty to theft, assault causing harm, dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and criminal damage; Ryan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Quieroz.
In court
George Gonzaga Bento was acquitted of murder after a jury accepted his self-defence claim.
Sentence
Dooner was jailed for two years and disqualified from driving for four years; Ryan was jailed for nine months.
Other details
Dooner was aged 20 at the time and has 17 previous convictions; Ryan, 27, was homeless and has 23 previous convictions including smuggling drugs into prison.
59 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGeorge Gonzaga Bento is a Brazilian food delivery cyclist (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGeorge Gonzaga Bento admitted to stabbing the 16-year-old (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh Dunne was a footballer who played in the North Dublin Schoolboy League (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh's family was devastated by social media abuse aimed at him (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDooner stole an electric bike belonging to delivery driver Tiago Da Silva outside Lidl in East Wall (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDooner drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDooner got into a confrontation with delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the stolen bike (irishtimes.com)
  • whatJosh Dunne and teenage friends cycled to the area hoping to buy pizza (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDooner fled the scene after the stabbing (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDooner and Ryan punched and kicked Mr Quieroz during the assault (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEarlier that night Dooner drove his moped dangerously around the North Strand area pulling wheelies and mounting the footpath (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAt Summerhill in Dublin 1 Dooner smashed windows of a house causing €1,000 damage (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe pizza place was closed due to the pandemic lockdown (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí returned the clothes Josh Dunne was wearing on the night he was killed to his family. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA memorial bench and flowers have been planted for Josh outside his home in Ballymun. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh was knifed twice in the chest at East Wall Road. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatDooner admitted stealing an electric bike worth around €400 belonging to Tiago de Silva. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe court was shown CCTV of Dooner stealing the electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatQuieroz and Bento, who were pals with bike owner de Silva, later spotted Dooner and got involved in retrieving the bike. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh and his friends had gone to get pizza in the area but the shop was closed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnother witness said the teenagers appeared to be hesitant to get involved. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh did not attack Bento until Bento stabbed his friend, at which point Josh reacted by punching Bento. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBento stabbed Josh twice in the chest but said it was in self-defence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCCTV footage showed Josh stumbling back before falling to the ground. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIt was the first time Diane Dunne was able to watch the CCTV footage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCCTV showed Dooner stealing the electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall and driving off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBento stabbed Josh twice in the chest and said it was in self-defence. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatJosh and his pals went to get pizza in the area but the shop was closed. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA football tournament in honour of Josh Dunne was held in Ballymun. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGeorge Gonzaga Bento admitted to stabbing Josh but was acquitted of murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe tournament features the Josh Dunne All Stars, Ballymun United and Sandyhill/Shangan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh and his pals had gone to get pizza in the East Wall area but the shop was closed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJosh held Dooner's moped as the fight broke out. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDooner is of Ravensdale Road, East Wall, Dublin 3. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe electric bike was stolen outside Lidl in East Wall, north inner city Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereJosh's home was on Coultry Green in Ballymun. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe stabbing occurred on 26 January 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDooner was arrested in February 2021 and Ryan was arrested later that year (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDooner pleaded guilty to stealing an electric bike, assault causing harm, dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and criminal damage (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeTiernan Ryan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Guillherme Quieroz (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDooner pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Guillherme Quieroz, dangerous driving of a moped, driving without a licence or insurance, and criminal damage. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeTiernan Ryan, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Quieroz. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGeorge Gonzaga Bento was acquitted after a jury accepted self-defence (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGeorge Gonzaga Bento admitted to stabbing Josh but was acquitted of a murder charge. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan said Dooner initiated the dispute and assaulted the delivery driver before sentencing him to two years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtTiernan Ryan, who arrived later at the scene, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Quieroz. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan presided over the hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceDooner was jailed for two years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDooner was disqualified from driving for four years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceRyan was jailed for nine months (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceTiernan Ryan was jailed for nine months. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherDooner has 17 previous convictions including dangerous driving and public order offences (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRyan has 23 previous convictions including smuggling drugs into prison (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThere were no victim impact statements before the court (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDooner was aged 20 at the time of the incident (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRyan was in custody and was homeless at the time (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDooner has 17 previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherTiernan Ryan, 27, of no fixed abode in Dublin, has 23 previous convictions including smuggling drugs into prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJosh was a talented footballer from Ballymun. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Jul2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Dublin teen stabbed to death in East Wall to be honoured at football tournament

    Reports the sentencing of Gavin Dooner (two years) and Tiernan Ryan (nine months) for offences connected to the incident that led to Josh Dunne's death; notes Bento's acquittal of murder; describes the memorial football tournament and the mother's account of receiving her son's clothes back.

    victim, Josh Dunne, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Josh Dunnesuspect, Gavin Dooner, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Doonersuspect, George Gonzaga Bento, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Gonzaga Bentosuspect, Tiernan Ryan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tiernan Ryanvictim, Tiago de Silva, male, non-irish (judged from name)Tiago de Silvavictim, Guillherme Quieroz, male, non-irish (judged from name)Guillherme Quieroz
  2. 22 Mar2023
    Sentenceddublinlive.ie, its first report
    Heartbroken mum of Josh Dunne can't look at clothes he wore when he died

    Adds Diane Dunne's emotional account of receiving the clothes, detailed court testimony including CCTV description, witness quotes, Dooner's 17 previous convictions, Tiernan Ryan's 23 previous convictions and nine-month sentence, and the fact that Josh was a talented footballer with a memorial bench outside his Ballymun home.

    victim, Josh Dunne, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Josh Dunnevictim, Tiago de Silva, male, non-irish (judged from name)Tiago de Silvavictim, Guillherme Quieroz, male, non-irish (judged from name)Guillherme Quierozconvicted, Gavin Dooner, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Dooneraccused, George Gonzaga Bento, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Gonzaga Bentoconvicted, Tiernan Ryan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tiernan Ryan
  3. 22 Mar2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    'Gardai returned clothes my Josh wore when he died... but I can't look at them'

    Reports that Diane Dunne received back the clothes Josh was wearing on the night of his death and has not yet opened the box. Provides additional court detail including witness testimony, CCTV description, Dooner's address and 17 previous convictions, Tiernan Ryan's 23 previous convictions, and the detail that Josh and his friends went to get pizza before the shop was closed.

    victim, Josh Dunne, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Josh Dunnesuspect, Gavin Dooner, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Doonersuspect, George Gonzaga Bento, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Gonzaga Bentosuspect, Tiernan Ryan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tiernan Ryanvictim, Tiago de Silva, male, non-irish (judged from name)Tiago de Silvavictim, Guillherme Quieroz, male, non-irish (judged from name)Guillherme Quieroz
  4. 21 Feb2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Jail for man (22) who stole delivery bicycle on night teenager Josh Dunne fatally stabbed

    Provides full details of the sentencing hearing: Dooner's and Ryan's guilty pleas, the judge's remarks, the specific sentences imposed (two years and four-year disqualification for Dooner; nine months for Ryan), the earlier moped driving and window-smashing, the pizza-buying context, and the acquittal of George Gonzaga Bento.

    victim, Josh Dunne, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Josh Dunnevictim, Guillherme Quieroz, male, non-irish (judged from name)Guillherme Quierozvictim, Tiago Da Silva, male, non-irish (judged from name)Tiago Da Silvaconvicted, Gavin Dooner, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Doonerconvicted, Tiernan Ryan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tiernan Ryanaccused, George Gonzaga Bento, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Gonzaga Bento
  5. 28 Jan2023
    Acquittedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Grieving sister of boy stabbed to death marks anniversary with emotional tribute

    Second anniversary tribute by Josh Dunne's sister Jade; confirms George Gonzaga Bento was acquitted after a jury accepted self-defence; mentions social media abuse directed at Josh's family.

    victim, Josh Dunne, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Josh Dunnesuspect, George Gonzaga Bento, male, Brazilian, named, non-irishGeorge Gonzaga Bento