The men facing jail terms for the death of Sunderland dad David Walsh

These are the men facing time behind bars for the killing of Sunderland dad David Walsh.

The 45-year-old, of Fuller Road, Hendon was killed outside an address on Cannon Cockin Street in November last year.

Raymond Brown, 36, of Cannon Cockin Street, had pleaded guilty to murder and violent disorder at an earlier date.

Today at Newcastle Crown Court, Charles Maguire Lamont, 40, of Villette Road, was found guilty of murder and violent disorder.

Lamont’s son Dalton James Barnett, 19, of Fuller Road, was found guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder.

The jury verdicts came after a trial which lasted more than four weeks.

Detective Sergeant Dave Hirst, of Northumbria Police, said: “We welcome the decision by the jury today.

“This has been a difficult case for all the family and our thoughts remain with them. I hope the family can seek some solace in today’s verdict and begin to rebuild their lives.

“I would like to thank the people of Hendon for their community spirit and helping police with this investigation.

“With the help of the community and the investigating team, these men have been brought to justice and they will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars.”

Members of Mr Walsh’s family were in court to hear the verdicts read out.

The devoted dad was just weeks away from renewing his wedding vows with his childhood sweetheart when he was killed in a brutal attack in a back lane.

Known as Boff to friends and family, he had planned to hold the ceremony in the Caribbean with wife Trisha in January.

Shortly before his death, the 6ft 3in railway worker – who was only home for the weekend after a change in shifts in the run up to Christmas – went to the aid of his youngest son David, 25, with eldest boy Kyle, 28, when they heard he was in trouble.

His family described Mr Walsh as a “gentle giant” devoted to his family.

His brother Billy, 54, said: “They have taken one of the best people off earth you could ever meet.

“He was a diamond. He was one of the nicest people you could ever meet, he would have given you his last penny.

“He was a gentleman, a fun-loving giant. He was just a true gentleman. He was one of the lads – one of the likely lads.

“He loved doing out for a drink, he loved holding barbecues and going on holiday, he would go three, four, five times a year.

“He was never apart from his wife, except from when he was at work.”

Billy’s wife Kath, 57, added: “He always said he would give his life for his bairns, and he did.

“It’s bad enough for him to be murdered, but what they did, it’s indescribable.

“He went to stop what was going on. He was a protective father, he wanted to try and help him.

“He and Trisha were together like superglue.

“She was like his shadow and they were a funny couple.

“He was fun-loving, he didn’t have a bad bone in his body.

“He was a family man, he was devoted to them.”

Mr Walsh, who went to Valley Road Primary and Southmoor School, where he met Trisha, also 45, was also dad to Aaron and daughter Casey and a grandad to Kyle’s children Kyle, 10, Cavan, eight, and Canis, six, as well as David’s daughter Ellie, seven.

He also leaves sister Maureen and brother Anthony and was also a loving uncle to Anthony’s children Lyndsay, 23, and Anthony, 28.

Mr Walsh was known for hosting barbecues, which would see neighbours join in the gatherings held in his back yard, as well as enjoying cooking for others.

He gained his nickname after shaving his hair off and was known for playing pranks on his friends and family.

He and Trisha enjoyed travelling, with Barbados, Mexico, Goa and Jamaica among the places they had holidayed in recent years.

Sunderland Echo