Donegal man to find out if his two-year sentence for fatal crash will be increased

A Donegal man who killed eight people in a car crash five years ago will find out today if he will have to serve more time in prison.

Shaun Kelly of Hill Road in Ballymagan was jailed for two years for what was described as the worst fatal collision in the history of the State.

MR Kelly was jailed just a few days before last Christmas and has served almost half of his two-year term.

The 26-year-old initially denied dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight people on July 11, 2010, but changed his plea just before trial.

Seven of those killed were crammed into his VW Passat, and none of them were wearing seatbelts as he sped towards Buncrana from a pub in Clonmany.

His eighth victim, 66-year-old Hugh Friel, was on his way home from Bingo when their paths tragically met.

Last month, lawyers for the DPP argued his sentence was “unduly lenient”.

A four-year sentence with the final two suspended did not reflect the gravity of what he did that night, they claimed.

They will find out this morning if their appeal has been successful.