The 7-year-old son of a woman killed when her car was rear-ended by an articulated truck said that sending the truck driver to jail would not bring his "mam back".
The victim impact reports from the family of the deceased, Mary Dundon (33), also detailed how they did not want to see a "mandatory sentence" imposed as it would not benefit anybody, but they did want to see him lose his driving licence for "a lengthy period of time".
Andrew Walsh (35), Faoi Dheirdadh, Kiltilly, Bunclody, Co Wexford, admitted dangerous driving causing Mrs Dundon's death at Sarsfieldstown, Julianstown, Co Meath, on the morning of June 23rd, 2004.
Trim Circuit Court heard she had indicated to turn right from the former main Dublin to Belfast road into her sister's house, when her car was struck from the rear by Walsh's truck and propelled into the path of an oncoming truck. She died some days later and her younger son, Mark, then aged 2½, who was in a child-seat in the back of the car, suffered a fractured skull, was in hospital for over a month, and has some remaining neurological problems.
Garda Sgt Séamus Burke said Walsh only applied his brakes .6-metres before the vehicles impacted but there was no evidence of speeding.
Mrs Dundon's older son, Seán (7), when asked by his father, David Dundon, what he would say (in the victim impact report) said that he did not believe that the driver left his house "that morning with the intention to kill his mam".
Judge Michael O'Shea said Walsh had totally misjudged the situation and "when he braked it was too late". The attitude of the Dundon family "indicates they are a remarkable family, their forgiving manner and their attitude of fairness is extraordinary", he added.
He believed the appropriate sentence was 18 months in prison suspended on Walsh entering into a bond to be of good behaviour for two years. He disqualified him from holding a driving licence for four years and ordered that it be endorsed.