An unlicensed driver who "ploughed into" and killed a cyclist in his 60s and then drove away has been given an extra nine months in jail following an appeal by prosecutors.
Christopher Coleman, 27, of Reuben Street in Dublin 8 had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of 62-year-old Eugene Maher in Dublin on 30 June 2015.
Coleman also admitted leaving the scene of the crash on the Clontarf Road and driving without insurance.
He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally on 23 June last year and was also disqualified from driving for 15 years.
The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review of Coleman's sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".
The Court of Appeal resentenced Coleman today to six years imprisonment with the final two years and nine months suspended.
The three-judge court effectively increased his jail time by nine months.
Maher family call for change
After today's hearing, Mr Maher's daughter Lisa said: "The severity of these sentences needs to be changed.
"It's as bad as going out and killing somebody by the hand of a gun or by your fist. My dad was killed by a car and it doesn't seem to be taken as seriously as we would like. So we will continue to lobby for what we believe is right."
Mr Maher's widow Marie said her life will never be the same again without her husband.
"At that moment my life changed forever. I miss him so much we were like two peas-in-a-pod. He was an amazing man," she said.
Lisa added: "My dad was a very forgiving person. He always gave people a second chance. He would have been the type of man that would have given a person like Christopher Coleman a second chance at a new life.
"So we as a family are going to take the next step at starting the forgiving process. That's something that we really really want to do, forgive Christopher Coleman for what he did to us. The end he gave to Dad.
"We hope he will turn his life around on the back of this. That lessons will be learned. Maybe if his life can be turned around and he can help others do the same thing and not make the mistakes that he's made. Maybe my dad's death won't be in vain."
Court hears car travelling over 70km/h in 50 zone
Counsel for the DPP Eilis Brennan BL had told the three-judge court that Mr Maher was crossing at pedestrian lights, which were in his favour, when a car came out of nowhere and "ploughed into him".
The car did not belong to Coleman, the court heard.
It had been driven by his friend to the beach and Coleman drove it back because he had not been drinking.
Ms Brennan said the car was gauged to be travelling at speeds between 72 and 79 km/h in a 50km/h zone.
She said the car crashed into Mr Maher; somebody "popped out" and took a look at the man on the ground, got back into the car and the car drove away.
The car was found abandoned nearby in Marino. A bus driver encountered five men "very anxious" to get on the bus.
Gardaí were able to identify all five people who got on the bus. They got addresses for the people in Dublin and an additional address for them in Wexford.
On 4 July, a solicitor made contact for all five men indicating that they would come forward.
Ms Brennan said the body of Mr Maher had been lying in the morgue for some days and could not be released until the driver was located because, in a prosecution, the driver would have the right to examine the body.
She said it was significant additional anguish for the Maher family.
She said Mr Maher was an "extraordinary healthy and fit" 62-year-old.
His wife, two children and a number of grandchildren were left with a "deep loss". He ran a business with his wife, which closed as a result of his death.
She said Coleman had 15 previous convictions, including three driving bans. At the time of this incident he had been disqualified from driving.
Ms Brennan submitted that the sentencing judge's starting point of four years was too low.
What appeared to have influenced the sentencing judge, Ms Brennan said, was that there had not been multiple deaths and drink was not a factor.
But the sentencing judge failed to look at some of the other "extremely aggravating" factors, she submitted.
She said Coleman had been disqualified from driving before. He had been sanctioned but had not taken that sanction seriously.
Coleman had no licence, which was "at least as aggravating" as having drink on board. He had never "demonstrated a capacity to control a car," she said.
Giving judgment today, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said the headline sentence was too low given the aggravating factors: the speed, the breaking of the red light, driving while disqualified and leaving the scene.
The appropriate headline sentence was six years not four, the court held.
In view of the "exceptional mitigation" in Coleman's case, the court suspended the final two years and nine months.
Mr Justice Sheehan said Coleman's remorse and guilty plea were important.
There was an excellent probation report, a poignant letter from Coleman's mother and an excellent report from the Governor of Mountjoy.