A 50-year-old Derry man has been sentenced to four years in jail for dangerous driving causing the deaths of five young people in Co Donegal three and a half years ago.
Brendan Henderson of Seven Oaks, Waterside in Derry pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of Gavin Duffy, David Steel, Darren Quinn, Charlene O'Connor and Rochelle Peoples on the 8 October 2005 at Quigleys Point in Donegal.
Henderson had no recollection of the crash in which his car hit the car being driven by Gavin Duffy, on Mr Duffy's side of the road, at a 3.15am.
He had been at a function in Donegal and had been drinking from 6.30pm in the evening.
Letterkenny Circuit Court was told that for some unknown reason he did not stay in the hotel he had booked into but drove back towards Derry.
The five young people all in their early 20s died instantly when Henderson's people carrier crashed into them.
Henderson fractured his spine in three places and is now almost permanently confined to a wheelchair.
There were emotional scenes in court when Henderson apologised directly to the families for the devastation, carnage and grief he had caused them.
Superintendent James Coen stressed that the young people were totally blameless in the crash.
Afterwards, Annette Duffy, the mother of Gavin Duffy, said the families were pleased that the young people's names had been cleared and that justice had been done.
Judge John O'Hagan said that Henderson will suffer for the rest of the life both physically and mentally.
He said each side had been handed down a life sentence, the families for the loss of their children and Henderson has to live with what he did, he killed five people.
