Father of hit-and-run victim launches campaign for stricter sentencing

The father of a Dublin teenager who was killed in a hit-and-run eighteen months ago has launched a campaign for stricter sentencing.

Leo Lieghio, whose daughter died after she was hit by a car in 2005, has written a letter to secondary school students across the country asking for their support.

16-year-old Marsia Lieghio from Clondalkin should have been sitting her Leaving Cert exams in a few weeks, but the teenager lost her life days after she was hit by a car in October 2005.

In April of this year, her killer was sentenced to ten months in jail for careless driving.

Leo Leighio wants the incoming government to bring in harsher sentences against speeding and drink-driving, and to introduce a charge of "vehicular manslaughter", similar to the one in the US.

In a heartfelt letter to all secondary school students, he's appealing to young people to spread the message not to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, and above all, to slow down on the roads.