The Irish driver of an articulated lorry who killed three builders in Scotland after falling asleep at the wheel of his vehicle was jailed for 18 months yesterday.
Richard Keogh (39), father of four children, had driven from Ireland with his 12-year-old son and was only a few miles from his destination near Mossend, Lanarkshire, when the accident happened. He lost concentration on the winding country road at a blind bend and veered into the path of the van carrying the builders to a site in Kilmarnock.
The force of the impact crumpled the van, instantly killing Mr Brian Dunn (44), father of two; Mr Thomas Nimmo (40) and Mr David Cummings (26). Six other men were injured, including Mr John Nimmo (43), who lost his brother in the accident.
Keogh, a driver for 17 years with a clean driving licence, admitted causing death by dangerous driving on May 1st last year when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court earlier this month. He was remanded in custody for reports.
Sheriff Vincent Canavan told the driver yesterday he had no alternative but to jail him for the offence. As Keogh, who was also banned from driving for five years, was led from the dock, his wife was comforted by two family friends and a parish priest, who had travelled from Ireland.
Speaking afterwards, the widow of one of the men said: "Jail will not benefit anybody at the end of the day. It is not going to bring anybody back."
Keogh's full address was not given in court, and his solicitor declined to name the town in the midlands from which he comes.