The family of Cameron Blair has welcomed the life sentence today for the murder of their 20-year-old son in January.
A 17-year-old boy was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today to detention for life with a review in 2032 for the murder of Mr Blair in Cork last January.
The teenager admitted stabbing Cameron Blair in the neck while he was acting as a peacemaker at a house party on Bandon Road.
Mr Blair had earlier allowed the accused and his two friends into the party and also acted as a "Good Samaritan" when he brought a drunk, sleeping homeless man into the house because he was concerned about him.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott said the murder was vicious and unanticipated and the boy must serve a minimum of 13 years with a review in November 2032.
Speaking outside the court today following the sentencing, Mr Blair's uncle Aidan Donnelly said: "The life sentence handed down today will not bring our beloved Cam back but will hopefully give some comfort, if not now, then over time.
Mr Donnelly said the family were told that the boy, having pleaded guilty, had to be sentenced before his 18th birthday because he was a juvenile.
Mr Donnelly said this resulted in the case being expedited through the courts and allowed them little time to grieve as a family.
The family has asked that this be examined by the appropriate authorities.
The Blair family also thanked the judge, the gardaí, the prosecution authorities and their local community in Cork for their continuing support.
"Cameron we miss you terribly, will never be forgotten, you did a lot… and we thank you for the joy and love you brought into our lives, Rest easy in peace Cam."
Cameron Blair was a sportsman, a rugby player, a second-year student and a black belt in karate.
He went to a student party at a house on Bandon Road in Cork on 16 January this year and agreed to watch the door.
The 17-year-old who killed Mr Blair arrived with an 18-year-old, a 14-year-old and a drunk, homeless man and although the others in the house did not want to admit them, Mr Blair said they were "sound" and let them in.
The homeless man fell asleep outside in a doorway but Mr Blair became concerned and brought him in.
The three drank inside with the students but subsequently armed themselves with knives from the kitchen, left and later tried to force their way back in.
Mr Blair stood at the door "acting as the peacemaker and trying to keep the situation calm".
He also said to one of the three "will you tell your friends to relax" and shook his hand.
However the 17-year-old became increasingly agitated, "paced up and down" outside and "tapped the knife on the back of his leg" a number of times before lunging forward with a large kitchen knife and stabbing Mr Blair in the neck.
Witnesses said the 20-year-old did not realise he had been stabbed and laughed it off before he collapsed and died.
His final words were, "Don't worry lad, I don't want to be fighting," before he smiled and closed his eyes.
The 17-year-old subsequently apologised saying he was "deeply remorseful" for what he had done.
Mr Blair, he said, "was nothing but nice to me on that night. He did nothing wrong to me".
Mr Justice McDermott described the murder of Cameron Blair as "shocking" and "awful".
It was, he said, vicious and unanticipated and the boy knew Mr Blair was not armed or expecting it. He knew Mr Blair was "not a threat".
The judge said the boy had armed himself with a knife which he hid and later drew and held openly to threaten, frighten and intimidate.
Afterwards he ran away, showed very little interest in the welfare of his victim, disposed of evidence and lied to gardaí.
Mr Justice McDermott said the mitigating factors included his plea and acceptance of guilt, and the fact that he is a child in law.
He sentenced the teenager to detention for life with a review in November 2032, but said he must serve a minimum of 13 years. The judge said the boy's release must be "very carefully considered and supervised".
The boy will shortly transfer from Oberstown to an adult prison, and the judge said that there should be a report on him then and then one every three years up to the review in 2032.
The judge also said "the deliberate recourse to knives by young men must be deterred".
