Two men get six years over fatal Donegal crash

Two Derry men have been sentenced to six years each for the manslaughter of two women in an four-car crash at Milford in Co Donegal…

Two Derry men have been sentenced to six years each for the manslaughter of two women in an four-car crash at Milford in Co Donegal last year.

Letterkenny Circuit heard that Patrick Savage (42) of 14, Prehen Park, Waterside, Derry and Thomas Melaugh (43) of 21 Cavanagh Court, Ballymagroarty, Co Derry, were racing at up to 100 mph through the country towns of Ramelton and Milford on the night of the crash.

They were travelling side by side in two powerful cars shortly before the fatal collision on a 10 mile stretch of road. The were sentenced this morning at Letterkenny Circuit court by Judge Matthew Deery.

They pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawful killing Sally McConnellogue (39) and Avril Friel (26), and three charges of endangering the lives of Jimmy and Kathleen Friel and Hugh Whoriskey, Contrary to Section 13 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

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Mr McRory SC, acting on behalf of Savage said his client felt "deep and genuine remorse" and would serve a lifetime sentence bearing the memory of the death of Sally McConnellogue, who was a lifetime friend and Avril Friel.

Mrs McMorrow SC, acting on behalf of Thomas Melaugh said her client was "haunted by the devastation he has wrought on both families day and night" and is a man who seeks no mercy.

Both convicted men were disqualified from driving for twenty years by Judge Deery.