The truth about the killing of Brian Murphy outside Club Anabel in Dublin was not revealed at the trial into his killing, the victim's father told a court today.
18-year-old Murphy who was kicked and beaten to death in 2000
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Mr Denis Murphy said he knew there would never be justice "because Brian is dead". Expecting the truth to be revealed has kept him going over the three years since his son's death, he said.
"But after the trial there are more questions than answers," he said.
Mr Murphy addressed Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court today during the sentencing hearing of three men convicted in connection with the death of his son.
Desmond Ryan (23), Conyngham Road, Dalkey; Seán Mackey (23), of South Park, Foxrock; and Dermot Laide (22) of Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, were convicted last month at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of violent disorder.
Laide was also convicted of the manslaughter of 18-year-old Murphy, who was kicked and beaten to death outside Club Anabel at the Burlington Hotel on August 31st, 2000.
Ryan was found not guilty of manslaughter after almost 19 hours of deliberations; the jury of eight men and four women said it could not reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge facing Mackey.
Reading from a prepared statement Mr Murphy said: "Over the course of the trial we have had seven weeks of dodging and weaving." There have been people before the court who know the truth and they may even be in the courtroom today, he said.
The victim's mother, Mrs Mary Murphy, and sister Ms Claire Murphy also read statements to the court today.
Mrs Murphy thanked "faithful, trustful and honest friends" for the support they had given the family. She also called on media not to misquote her and to try to understand what the family is going through.
Both parents strongly rejected the notion that their son had in any way instigated a fight or had been so drunk he was out of control.
Ms Claire Murphy said she was coping with the death of her brother by blanking the manner in which he died from her mind. "He died in an evil way . . . [through] an act of savagery," she said.
Judge Michael White is hearing submissions from defence and prosecution counsel before retiring to consider his decision, which is expected next week.
Character witnesses for Laide were then called. Fr Aidan Troy from Holy Cross school in north Belfast said he had baptised Mr Laide and had known him all his life.
"Nothing can undo the enormity of the tragedy of losing a young life," Fr Troy said, adding that the events of three years ago "would not be recognisable as the actions of the Dermot Laide I know."
Further character witnesses testified that Laide was "caring, placid and unassuming". A neighbour in Co Monaghan, Mr Eddie Holly, said Laide's upbringing was "hard working" and that contrary to media reports he was not from a "posh" or privileged background.