The father of a young cyclist who was killed by a drunk driver has said his family is heartbroken following the death of the 18-year-old.
Stefan Cooper, who was studying horticulture in Bantry, was killed after he was struck by a car being driven by 70-year-old Sean Collinsat Barley Hill, Rosscarberry.
Collins, from Threegneeves, Leap, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to driving without due care and attention causing death in March 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to driving a car with excess alcohol - 140 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of blood at a time when the limit was 50 mgs.
He had a previous drink-driving conviction from 2006.
Christy Cooper told the court that he misses his son terribly, describing him as a fit, handsome, intelligent, funny, decent and kind young man who never got the opportunity to fulfill his undoubted potential.
He lost his wife to cancer in 2007.
"Our lives are shattered, our hearts are broken", he said.
Stefan's sister Michaela told the court that she never realised how full of joy and comfort their home was until her brother died. She said it now just feels empty, lonely and big.
She said she could not understand how anyone could drink and drive, adding that it is sad that a lot of people do it.
She said Collins' life will never be the same again, nor his family's but because of him, her brother does not have a life to live and that is "unimaginably, painfully unforgivable".
One witness told the court that he spotted the teenager who was wearing dark clothing cycling about one metre out from the hard shoulder.
He went back to offer him a lift home but the accident had already occurred.
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a one-year suspended jail term on the charge of careless driving causing death, fined Collins €500 for drink-driving, and disqualified him from driving for five years.
