The 18-year-old driver of a car which crashed at speed killing three teenagers in Co Tipperary on New Year's Eve 2008 has been sentenced to four years in prison, with two suspended.
Nenagh Circuit Court heard today that Thomas Clarke of Silvermines, Co Tipperary, had drunk 12 bottles of Budweiser and one bottle of wine on the day of the crash, and was also drinking a bottle of Budweiser while driving.
A garda forensic investigation concluded that inappropriate speed was the primary cause of the accident, in which the car crashed into a tree and ended up in a ditch.
Adrian O'Brien, Stuart Donnellan and Padraig Bourke, were killed.
Imposing sentence, Judge Tom Teehan also disqualified Thomas Clarke from driving for 12 years.
