THE family of a west Belfast great-grandfather killed by a drunk driver has said no jail term "will ever be long enough" after the 33-year-old was sentenced to 10 years.
Michael Loughran killed 70-year-old Seamus Conlon on August 3 last year following a drink-and-drugs binge.
After stealing his uncle's silver Vauxhall Vectra at around 10.30am, Loughran sped around several roads in west Belfast for around 90 minutes before he struck Mr Conlon on the Whiterock Road.
The pensioner had just attended a funeral in the City Cemetery.
Loughran was told today he will not be automatically released after completing half his 10-year sentence because he is deemed a risk to the public.
Speaking outside Belfast Crown Court, Mr Conlon's daughter Geraldine said: "I'm pleased with the outcome, but it will not bring my Daddy back."
Flanked by relatives who wore t-shirts bearing Mr Conlon's photo, Geraldine and her brother Seamus said their father's death was devastating.
When asked about the length of the sentence, Seamus said: "Nothing will ever be long enough, but we're just glad it's ever."
The court heard that Loughran has expressed remorse for his actions, but Ms Conlon said her family did not accept this was genuine.
"He knew what he did. The day he got into that car, he knew what he was doing."
Ms Conlon said her father suffered from diabetes and had overcome two heart attacks and cancer before he was killed.
"From the day it happened, our lives have never been the same," she said.
"But at least we can start to grieve properly now. We can put this chapter behind us and and start grieving as a family."
Loughran - a father-of-two whose address was given as Maghaberry prison - appeared at the hearing via videolink.
Judge Stephen Fowler sentenced him for seven crimes including causing Mr Conlon's death by dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit, aggravating vehicle taking causing death and causing death by driving without a licence.
The judge noted that he has continued to take drugs in prison.
The court heard that in the 24 hours before the collision, Loughran had injected cocaine and drunk 10 tins of beer, four litres of cider and other alcohol. Cannabis and Diazepam were also found in his system.
Before the fatal crash the car had hit a lamppost and other vehicles and was driven on the wrong side of the road.
CCTV footage showed Loughran getting out of the car on Millennium Way and stumbling around before getting back in the vehicle and driving off.
Mr Conlon was killed when the car hit him and a stationary van on Whiterock Road. The pensioner had been speaking to the driver of the van at the time.
The van was thrown onto the footpath where it hit a second pedestrian. Both the pedestrian and van driver were injured but have since recovered.
Judge Fowler said that after watching footage of Loughran's driving before the crash, and his behaviour afterwards, it was clear he was "heavily intoxicated".
Branding this behaviour - which included Loughran saying 'I don't give a f***' - as "irrational and unstable", he also noted he had previous offences for driving with excess alcohol and dangerous driving.
The judge said it was clear Loughran's life had been "chaotic" and that he started drinking in his teens.
He revealed that he had failed a drugs test in prison last November and refused to undergo a second test in August.
Loughran was deemed as presenting a significant risk to the public by the Probation Board and a dangerous offender by Judge Fowler.
Due to this finding, he will not be automatically released on licence after completing half his sentence.
Instead, he will be assessed by the Parole Commissioners and may not be suitable for release until he has served his entire 10-year term.
Loughran will also serve an additional three years on licence when he is released and was also banned from driving for seven years.
