THE grieving family of a well-known Fermanagh grandmother killed in a horrific road traffic collision outside Fivemiletown over three years ago say they are devastated that the man responsible for the crash will not serve a custodial sentence.

Retired restaurateur, Eileen Maguire (69), died as a result of multiple injuries she sustained in the accident on the A4 road on November 1, 2013. Her husband, Jim, and son, Connor, were both seriously injured and each spent months recovering in hospital.

This week at Dungannon Crown Court, the 43-year-old man responsible for the three-vehicle collision received the maximum of 240 hours community service and a three-year road ban.

Damien Maguire (no relation), of Knockonny Road, Ballygawley, had earlier entered guilty pleas to one count of causing death by careless driving, and a further three counts of causing grievous bodily injury by careless driving.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter yesterday (Wednesday), the family of Eileen Maguire said they felt justice has not been done.

The family point out that Jim and Connor Maguire both spent longer in hospital recovering from their injuries than Damien Maguire will spend doing his community service.

While the Maguires said they “reluctantly” understood that the law had to applied, they added that they didn’t agree with it.

Speaking through their solicitor, Myles McManus, the family say they feel “let down” by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Mr McManus said the PPS had originally charged Damien Maguire with causing death by dangerous driving, but later accepted a lesser plea.

The solicitor said that the family felt they were “not properly involved” and that a number of questions remained unanswered.

The family are also considering campaigning for changes to the sentencing regime in similar cases, in memory of a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother.

In a moving victim impact statement that was prepared ahead of the sentencing hearing, Jim Maguire said: “I have been given a life sentence and my family were given a life sentence on that day.”

Detailing the extent of his injuries, Mr. Maguire said: “My right foot has nine plates, eighteen screws and a bar up it. As a small insight into one of my many daily struggles, every morning I have to place an electric blanket around my foot for approximately 20 minutes before I can even contemplate getting out of bed.

“I have been told by countless number of doctors that the rest of my life will be spent in agonising pain.”

Admitting that he now struggles every day of my life, he said: “All I can say to the Court is that everything is over now, my life finished on that day. All I have in front of me is pain, suffering, loneliness and misery.”

Describing how his home had been torn apart, Mr. Maguire said: “I have lost my wife, my sons have lost their loving mother and my grandchildren have lost their grandmother, each of whom was adored by my dear Eileen.

“I think most people would say the same about their wife but I feel like I can say it with my hand on my heart and as God has my witness that she was the kindest and most loving lady anyone has ever met. She truly was goodness personified.”

Meanwhile, their solicitor Mr McManus explained that it was not up to the family to appeal the sentence, but rather it would be up to the PPS to lodge an appeal if they believed it to be unduly lenient.