A Cork woman told a court her life had been ruined by a drunken driver. Ms Janet Dillon, a pharmacist, who lost a leg in the accident a year ago, said: "I was walking along the path minding my own business and I'm run down by this drunken driver. My life is gone, my career is ruined."
She told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that her work as a pharmacist involved standing up all day, which was now impossible. She was fitted with an artificial leg a week ago and is learning how to walk again.
"I will probably have to train for something else, but when you work very hard in life to get somewhere and you put all your energies into doing your job well, it's very difficult to change direction."
She told Judge Anthony Murphy she did not seek revenge. She hoped society would become more aware of the damage wreaked by drink and drugs and she wanted to ensure the man who knocked her down never drank and drove again.
Derek French, Monessa, Sally brook, Glanmire, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, on November 30th last year and to driving with excess alcohol in the blood.
He was sentenced to three years in jail. Yesterday's hearing, a review of the sentence, was told he had served six months. "He is receiving treatment for his addiction and has the support of his family," said Mr Tim O'Leary, for French. "He is contrite, anxious to make amends and wants to lead a crime-free life."
Although French was sentenced last month to six months in jail for possessing 50 ecstasy tablets for supply to others, this offence preceded the driving offence, Mr O'Leary said.
Judge Murphy said French would have to live with what he had done for the rest of his life and "with some misgiving", he would suspend the rest of the sentence. French was bound to be of good behaviour for the next five years and ordered to remain under the supervision of the court welfare service.