The mother of a young man who was stabbed to death inside a Clare nightclub has said their whole family has been destroyed by what happened.

She was addressing the judge at the sentence hearing of 24-year-old Nathan O’Neill, of Hill Top Drive in Dooradoyle, Limerick.

Jamie Higgins died after Nathan O’Neill stabbed him five times inside the Shannon Knights nightclub in the early hours of the 18th of March 2018.

The court heard Jamie loved sports. He played soccer, hurling and rugby and had watched Ireland win the grand slam with his cousin on St Patrick’s Day.

Later, he went to the nightclub with some friends. Nathan O’Neill ended up there too and following an altercation, his trial heard he left for about an hour and returned with a knife which he later used to stab Jamie with.

He was acquitted of murder and is now awaiting sentence for manslaughter.

At his sentence hearing today, Jamie’s mother, Sharon, said her son had a “good heart.” She said she feels “dead inside” and can’t accept he’s gone.

Jamie’s girlfriend, Jade McNamara, described him as her “first and only boyfriend.” She said he was a great father to their son and will always be the love of her life.

Other family members called for justice to be served. O’Neill will be sentenced later this month.