The family of a Dublin man stabbed to death while trying to help his wounded friend during a fight over Christmas 2013 say they will never forgive his killer.

Wayne Kennedy of Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Dublin was acquitted of David Spain’s murder last July, but found guilty of manslaughter.

Sean Turner is a professional heavyweight boxer, but in 2013 he was still fighting as an amateur and owed Wayne Kennedy €50.

In the early hours of St Stephen’s Day 2013, they arranged to meet for a fight over the debt in a green area at Rathsallagh Park in Shankill.

Wayne Kennedy brought a large kitchen knife and used it to stab Mr Turner.

While trying to help his friend, David Spain was stabbed six times - two of them proved fatal.

Kennedy, a 33-year-old father of two, was acquitted of murder last July but found guilty of manslaughter. He was also cleared of the attack on Mr Turner.

Today, David Spain’s uncle Eamon Kavanagh described his nephew as a “gentle giant” who would do anything for anyone.

It was loyalty that led him to his death, he said.

A sentence will be handed down next month.