A 56 year-old man has been sentenced to three years in jail after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of four members of the one family in a road traffic accident on the main Cork-Dublin Road last year.
Michael McGrath, a widowed father of eight, from Hackettstown in Co Carlow pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of Mary Dalton (70) from Lislee, Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, her daughters, Kathleen Quish from Shanballymore, Mallow and Mary Downes (31) from the Demesne, Mitchelstown along with her grandson and Mary's son, Robbie Downes (3).
The crash happened on the morning of 22 January 2004 at Kilcoran, Cahir on the main Cork-Dublin Road.
The accident happened on a straight, wide stretch of road about three miles south of Cahir, Co Tipperary. The road takes Dublin- and Cork-bound traffic and acts as a bypass for the town.
The family members were on their way to Dublin Zoo for a treat for Robert and his seven-year-old brother Con, who was the only survivor
Judge Michael O'Shea said he believed a custodial sentence must be imposed and he sentenced McGrath to three years in jail, disqualified him from driving for 15 years and ordered the conviction to be endorsed on his licence.
Leave to appeal was refused.