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THE PARENTS OF a four-year-old boy who was killed by a drunk driver last year have given their first televised interview since their son’s killer was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for his crime.

Speaking on RTE’s Claire Byrne Live, Ronan and Gillian Treacy, parents of Ciarán, spoke of the need for tougher sentences for drink drivers in Ireland.

Finbarr O’Rourke, the man convicted of causing Ciarán’s death, had drunk between eight and ten pints of cider before crashing into Gillian Treacy’s car on 17 April 2014.

“We have to get a fairer way of dealing with drunk drivers,” said Ronan.

Whether it be tougher sentences or… I would like to even see it aligned with the UK.

I think they’re around 14 years whereas here I think the maximum is 10 years.”

Intent

Gillian and Ronan Treacy

“Anybody that gets into a car with nine pints in them, you know, I’m sorry but they do have the intention of doing harm,” Gillian said.

She gave an emotional account of the day of the accident that claimed her son’s life.

“All of a sudden Ciarán went quiet, and as a mother you know that silence is not right,” she said.

It’s the most horrific and harrowing time that any person can go through.

No family deserves it. You know, a loved one to be taken from them so brutally by a drunk driver.

Gillian gave an emotionally searing victim impact statement at last month’s trial.

“The last sighting I had of Ciaran was him being carried to the side of the road, with the evening sun beaming through his blonde hair.The next time I saw my little boy, was on a stretcher – dead,” she told the court.

My whole life was shattered and my heart was broken when my worst nightmare had been confirmed.

Early Saturday Ciarán was brought to me on a stretcher. I tried to hold him on my best side with total disbelief, none of this made any sense.

I spent that night with Ciaran, talking to him and making the most of our final hours together. I spoke to God about Ciaran’s favourite toys, food, colour and all the things that made him unique.

Read: “When the drink is in, that’s it” – drink driving is still going on in Ireland’s rural areas

Read: Mother of boy (4) killed by drunk driver says, “We will always wonder how life would have been”