Fathers of men in horror crash that killed eight say driver has suffered enough
The sentencing case of a 26-year-old Donegal man, who has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight men, is continuing in Letterkenny.
Shaun Kelly of Hill Road, Buncrana, pleaded guilty last July to the charge which relates to a crash on the night of July 11, 2010 between Clonmany and Buncrana.
Kelly was driving a Volkswagen Passat which collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction driven by 66-year-old Hugh Friel, who was on his way home from bingo.
Mr Friel and seven young men who were travelling in the car with Kelly were all killed.
They were: Eamonn McDaid, 22, of Ballymagan, Buncrana; Mark McLaughlin, 21, of Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty, 19, of Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciaran Sweeney 19, of Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin, 21, of Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney, 23, of Meenaduff, Clonmany and Damien McLaughlin, 21, of Umricam, Buncrana.
The court has heard victim impact statements from relatives of the dead men.
Speaking from Letterkenny Circuit Court, Highland Radio's Barry Whyte said some of the victims' families said they did not want Shaun Kelly punished further.
Eamon Sweeney, whose son Ciaran was killed in the crash said his son had got into the car willingly, and it was unfair that Shaun Kelly be left to take all the blame.
He said Shaun Kelly needed all the help and support he could get, and not punishment. He also said that as soon as Shaun Kelly was able, he visited the Sweeney family and "expressed immense remorse".
He added enough lives had been ruined, that it would make it harder for the Sweeney family if Kelly were sent to jail and it would not be what Ciaran would want.
James McEleney's brother Robert also said he would never have wanted his brother to be in Shaun Kelly's position and his family do not want Shaun Kelly sent to prison.
Paul Doherty's father Felix said Shaun Kelly was already serving a life sentence. Seamus McDaid, whose son Eamonn died in the crash, said Kelly could not be forgotten. He said Kelly had suffered enough and he did not want him sent to prison.
Meanwhile, Hugh Friel's brother Anthony said he felt anger, was on medication, could not sleep, and had planned to take his life a number of times.
Shaun Kelly has been sentenced to four years in jail, with two suspended and banned from driving for 10 years. Report
