The parents of Dale Creighton, the young man who died after he was attacked in Tallaght almost three years ago, have said they can never forgive those involved.
Five men have pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Creighton, who was 20-years-old when he died.
One man has pleaded guilty to possession of a knife while a woman has admitted violent disorder during the attack in the early hours of New Year's Day 2014.
Warning: Some readers may find details in this report distressing
Mr Creighton sustained severe head and face injuries in the attack on a footbridge in the west Dublin suburb.
He died in hospital the next day after he had been punched and kicked and lifted off the ground.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Creighton's mother Rhoda Smith described him as a lovely, quiet and handsome man who was due to start a carpentry course.
She said she can never erase the memories of seeing her son's injuries in hospital after the attack.
The torture and fear he was put through will haunt me for the rest of my life.
She said she always told him to run in such a situation but when she saw the CCTV footage she knew he did, but could not get away.
Ms Smith said she could never come to terms with the way her son died; it was her worst nightmare, she said.
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In his victim impact statement, Mr Creighton's father Darren said his son had been left unrecognisable after the attack and he could not believe a human being could do this to another.
The donation of his son's organs allowed five people to live, he added.
He said he lost his best pal that night and now every day he wakes up to a nightmare.
Both parents criticised the fact that the defendants had sought two independent autopsies on Mr Creighton which left him so fragile they could not touch, hug or kiss him in his coffin.
The seven people before the court are Aisling Burke, 23, who has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Her 28-year-old brother David Burke, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Both Burkes have a current address at Beechpark, Collinstown, Co Westmeath.
Graham Palmer, 26, with a current address at Park Avenue, Portarlington, Co Laois; Ross Callery, who is 23 years-old, currently of Gortlum Cottages, Brittas, Co Dublin; Jason Beresford, 23, Coill Diarmuida, Ard a' Laoi, Castledermot, Co Kildare and 27-year-old Gerard Stevens currently of Grosvener Square, Rathmines in Dublin also pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
James Reid, 26, currently of Glen Aoibhinn, Gorey, Co Wexford pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.
Justice Deirdre Murphy said she will consider all the evidence, including CCTV footage over the Christmas period, and will sentence all seven next month.
