‘When Meg was killed, I lost my reason for fighting my illness’

“When I heard Meg had been killed in a car crash, my world fell apart. When Meg was taken, I lost my permanent carer, my confidante, my reason for getting up and fighting my illness.”

Valda Johnston’s victim impact statement was read out in court yesterday as Sean Casey was sentenced to seven years in jail for causing the death of her daughter.

The 26-year-old from Cooragannive, Skibbereen, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Megan Johnston, 22, from Skibbereen who was a passenger. The charge also included the serious bodily harm caused to Kate Petford, who is now a quadriplegic, and to three young men, Michael Connolly, Patrick O’Sullivan, and Michael West.