A VICTIM impact statement prepared by the members of Martine Talon's family was read in court by her two adult sons before sentence was passed by Judge Katherine Delahunt.
Benjamin Talon told the judge that Martine Talon was a mother of three who had worked all her life and was held in great affection by everyone who knew her. "On May 5th, 2007, a man in only seconds obliterated her existence and destroyed all her life." He said her four grandchildren ask them every day why someone killed their grandmother and asked whether she was with the angels. He said his mother had many interests, including rambling, dancing and nature. He said she had many projects planned for her future.
Vincent Talon said the loss of their mother had created an "enormous emptiness" in the family. He told Judge Delahunt: "Our family is full of sorrow."
He said his grandfather, Ms Talon's father, was a "hero of the last war during the resistance" and he "was dead of sorrow this summer". The young grandchildren did not understand why their grandmother had left them, and they still expected her to return from her trip bringing them presents, he added.
A written victim impact statement on behalf of Martine Liotard's mother and her 21-year-old son was handed to Judge Delahunt. Members of the two victims' families also presented a written statement outside the court following the sentencing. It stated:
''We believe that the sentence was too light. In France this would be treated as a homicide with premeditation (speed, alcohol, drugs, dangerous driving, no insurance, a fraudulent attempt to escape responsibility). This is a fault in Irish law. As far as we are concerned, there were two murders in this case. And two culprits: the accused and the Irish system, which seems very soft to us.
"Both families sincerely thank the gardaí and the French Embassy for their help."