The Derry-born ambulance driver charged with manslaughter for killing three children in a crash in Brooklyn last year accepted a prosecution offer yesterday to plead guilty to a lesser offence and stay out of prison.
After a brief conference with her attorney and family, Anne Lamberson tearfully told Judge Michael Gary that she would plead guilty to the lower charge of criminally negligent homicide and accept a sentence of five years probation.
"It has just been horrible for the two families and I hope from this day forward there will be peace for the two families," she said.
Lamberson was arrested and faced a second degree manslaughter charge in October 1998 after the private ambulance she was driving crashed into the family car of Ms Angela Igwe.
Three of Ms Igwe's children - Damilola (7), Olusegun (5) and Akintunde Morak (2) - were killed.
Although the Brooklyn District Attorney's office offered Lamberson a plea bargain, until yesterday her attorney Mr Michael Dowd appeared set to go to trial. If a jury had found her guilty, prosecutors said they would have pressed for a prison term.
Yesterday both Lamberson and her lawyer said the decision to accept the plea was prompted by concern for her daughter Kathy and a desire for closure.
"It was the best option. Everyone has suffered for a year. It is time for peace. It is the only way for peace to come and for me to make sure my daughter is always by me," Lamberson said.
Both the District Attorney and Mr Dowd said they will apply after a year to have the rest of Mrs Lamberson's probation dismissed if she has no violations. Judge Gary told Lamberson it was evident she felt deep sorrow for the deaths. "We all know this was not an intentional crime. It was a tragedy," he said.
Lamberson still faces a civil lawsuit. The Igwe family have hired former O.J. Simpson lawyer Mr Peter Neufeld to deal with their legal matters.
"There will be a civil lawsuit pursued against the driver and more importantly against her employer," Mr Neufeld said while refusing to discuss the details.
Lamberson was born in Derry but her parents emigrated from the Bogside in the early 1960s to the US.
Her case attracted attention and support in Northern Ireland after Mr John Hume voiced concern over the charges levelled against her.