The family of a boy who was killed by a drunk driver say they’re “disappointed” his sentence had been reduced on appeal.
Finbarr O’Rourke of Laurel Drive in Portlaoise was originally handed a seven and a half year sentence for Ciaran Treacy’s death.
The 4-year-old was being driven home by his mother when O’Rourke crashed into them near Portarlington in April 2014.
His sentence was reduced to six years today because the Court of Appeal felt the sentencing judge made a mistake.
John Browne, solicitor for the Treacy family, says the family is still trying to come to terms with what happened:The father-of-three had consumed up to eight pints of cider before he got behind the wheel.
His sentence was reduced to six years in prison after the Court of Appeal ruled there was an error in the way the original sentence was constructed.
John Browne, solicitor for the Treacy family, made a short statement on their behalf outside court afterwards:
VIDEO Solicitor for Treacys reads statement after drunk driver who killed their son (4) has jail term reduced from 7.5 to 6 years on appeal pic.twitter.com/aQAkjp1UkS
— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) October 24, 2016
Mr Browne said the family is still trying to come to terms with what happened:
