THE daughter of a well-known Donegal GAA fan has slammed as a "complete joke" the jail term handed down to the drunk driver who killed him.
Paul Nicholl was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison this week for causing the death of 62-year-old Patsy McCroary, known as 'Donegal Patsy'.
The Co Tyrone man was two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit when he lost control of his Suzuki jeep and careered into a car carrying Mr McCroary, his wife and two children.
Judge Paul Ramsey told Nicholl (50) that his lifelong alcohol abuse had led to the ultimate horror of causing the death of another human being.
He said "heart-rending" victim impact reports spoke volumes about Mr McCroary, originally from Castlefin, who settled over the border to raise his family in Castlederg.
Just days before the crash he was hailed as "Donegal's number one supporter" during a Dr McKenna Cup game against Tyrone in Letterkenny.
His relatives attended Omagh Crown Court as the sentence was handed down on Tuesday.
Following the hearing his daughter Samantha McCroary, who was severely injured in the head-on collision between Sion Mills and Victoria Bridge in January 2014, described the sentence as a "disgrace".
Sharing a news report of the case on Facebook, she said: "No matter how long he gets will never take back my wee daddy. About two-and-a half years. It's a complete joke is all I can say."
Nicholl, of Carnkenny Road, Newtownstewart, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mr McCroary by careless driving with excess alcohol, and causing grievous bodily injury to his wife and children.
He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison followed by the same period on licence, and was disqualified from driving for six years.
Judge Ramsey said while he could accept his early guilty plea, remorse, lack of previous driving offences and the fact he himself was injured, he could not overlook "the very high reading" of alcohol.
The court heard Mr McCroary had been travelling towards Strabane on the Melmount Road with his wife Geraldine and children Padraig and Samantha when Nicholl crossed into their lane.
His family also suffered severe injuries, with Geraldine spending three months in hospital and missing her husband's funeral.
Nicholl told police he had gone to a bar that morning to have a couple of pints and on his way home stopped at a shop and bought a 12-pack of beer "but had no recollection after that''.
The case follows controversy over a three-and-a-half year jail term given to a drunk driver who killed 18-year-old Co Tyrone student Enda Dolan.
David Lee Stewart (31) of Grays Park Avenue in Belfast, will also serve the same period on licence for knocking down the teenager as he walked along the city's Malone Road in October 2014.
His passenger, William Ross Casement (21), of Belvoir Drive, received 50 hours community service, two years on probation, and a 12-month driving ban.
Enda's family, from Killyclogher, said they were "disgusted" with the sentences and branded the legal system a "disgrace".
The Public Prosecution Service is considering whether to appeal the terms.
