A woman whose husband was killed whilst out for a Sunday cycle on the Malahide Road in Dublin last year, has said no words can ever change how brutal it has been since she lost him.
John Walsh, a father-of-three in his 40s from Malahide, died following a collision with a car on the road in north Dublin early on 18 February last year.
Olivia Walsh was speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice after 62-year-old Marcella Duffy of Streamstown Lane, Malahide, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of John Walsh.
Her car had crossed onto the other side of the road.
She was given a fully suspended two-and-a-half-year sentence and disqualified from driving for a period of six years.
Watch: Family says it will cling to positives cyclist brought to their lives
John Walsh was a solicitor for AIB, captain of the UCD Cycling Club and a father to three young boys.
"It was tragic and sudden and no words and nothing can ever change how brutal it has been," said Ms Walsh, speaking to the media after the court case.
Ms Walsh said the family would cling on to all the positives that her husband had brought to their lives.
"The joy he brought with his mischievous grin and the glint in his eye. It is that we will cling on to as we move forward," she said.
Ms Walsh said the family would take time to reflect on the sentence handed down, but she said there was a sense of closure, now that the process had been brought to a conclusion.
In her victim impact statement, which was read to the court, she said: "There are now three very young boys facing essentially their entire lives without their adoring father.
"John wanted them so much. He wanted to be a present, active, loving dad in every moment of their lives. He was devoted to them."
Fully suspending the sentence imposed on Duffy, Judge Martin Nolan said he could not find any aggravating factors in the case and that she was unlikely to offend again.
He said the court must look for intentional factors to determine the level of culpability.
"I cannot identify any such factor in this case," said the judge. The judge noted Duffy was driving at 62km/h which he noted "was somewhat over the limit".
However, the judge noted the speed limit had just changed from a 60km/h to 50km/h zone.
"It seems to me for whatever reason, she lost control and allowed her car to stray," said the judge.
"Her culpability in relation to dangerous driving is on the lower side," he added.
