Payout for fatal crash families

Annette Duffy's son Gavin and four friends were killed in the crash

The families of two of the five young people killed in a crash in Donegal in 2005 have been awarded over 200,000 euro each by the Irish High Court.

Charlene O'Connor, Gavin Duffy, David Steele, Darren Quinn, and Rochelle Peoples all died in the accident.

Brendan Henderson, from Seven Oaks in Londonderry, is serving a four-year jail sentence for dangerous driving.

Gavin's mother Annette Duffy said the law should be changed to make it easier for families to claim compensation.

"Whenever anyone is killed like that you're entitled to damages, it's what's called 'tear money'," she said.

"It wasn't about money for us, but you're entitled to be compensated for a loss like that, and for all the trauma you've been through.

"The barrister said to me that I hadn't been to the doctor, and he was more or less asking me how could I prove what I'd been through?

"I said to him, why should I be running to doctors to try and get compensation for something we're entitled to?

"He agreed with me, he said the law does need changing.

"I lost a son, my family was traumatised, and he is greatly missed," she said.

Henderson's car was on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into the victims' car at Quigley's Point in October 2005.

He sustained serious injuries, and is now in a wheelchair.

Gavin Duffy's family were awarded 205,000 euros and Charlene O'Connor's family 225,000 euros.