Grieving Birr mother wants law change

A Birr native whose youngest son was killed by a drunk driver in 2009 is looking for public support in a bid to change the law relating to drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents. Dubbed "Brendan's Law" in memory of Christina Donnelly's son of the same name, the law hopes to see drivers involved in fatal accidents who fail breath tests suspended from driving once charged until their case comes before the courts. Christina's son Brendan was killed aged 24 along with his 26-year-old friend Lee Salkeld on October 26, 2009. At the time the two, along with their partners, were travelling to Cork airport for a holiday. Twenty-nine-year old Anthony Long of Leadington, Leamlara in Cork was later jailed for five years for dangerous driving causing their deaths and banned from driving for 15 years. Christine, who visits Birr from her home in Waterford every week, told the Offaly Independent Brendan would be 27 on May 20 next. Though she'll never stop missing her son, she said the support given to "Brendan's Law" has been "a tremendous moral boost". The push for law change is being spearheaded by Christina along with Waterford councillor Gary Wyse and a core group of four DIT postgraduate students under the guidance of Dr Nick Flynn. Support has also been garnered from Senator Mark Daly according to Christina, and there are hopes to secure RSA support over the coming weeks. The campaign's Facebook page currently stands at just under 2,000 "likes" and it's here Christina is encouraging people to go to register their support for the cause. "What people can do for us is to please go to Brendan's Law on Facebook and simply like the page and write your name and the county that you're from," she said, adding that it's hoped links will be put in place with contact details for local representatives shortly. As well as suspending a drunk driver's licence once charged, "Brendan's Law" is also looking for mandatory sentences of a minimum of six years for drunk drivers convicted in relation to fatal accidents along with mandatory disqualification from driving for between 20 and 25 years. "We're drumming up an absolute mass of support and I sincerely want to thank everybody from Offaly and all over the country that has already taken the time to support 'Brendan's Law'," Christina said yesterday (Thursday). "Public support is vitally important for us. With it we'll get there in the end."