A decision this week by a Circuit Court judge not to jail a drunken driver who killed two people has been strongly criticised by one of the families involved.
Judge Anthony Kennedy fined Vincent McCormick (36) €1,000 and banned him for driving for 10 years, after the Kepak production manager pleaded guilty to drunken-driving and dangerous driving at Roscommon Circuit Court on Tuesday.
Mr McCormick's driving caused the death of Martin Connor (44), Mantua, Elphin, Co Roscommon, and Theresa Smith (50), Williamstown, Co Galway, in the road crash near Tulsk, Co Roscommon, last December.
At Tuesday's sitting of the court, Mr Kennedy said that justice did not demand or require a jail sentence or suspended sentence. Yesterday Mr Connor's family said: "Not that we ever wanted a jail sentence or a person to go to jail, but we feel that a man's life is worth more than a five-year road ban - a person's life is worth more than that and a €1,000 fine."
The family declined to elaborate on the statement, but it is understood they are seeking legal advice and are considering an appeal against the leniency of the sentence.
Mr McCormick is from Mantua, near the accident scene. The collision occurred when Mr McCormick tried to overtake the car in which Mr Connor and Ms Smith were travelling, causing them to career off the road and into a stretch of river alongside the road.