"It never ends," said Mrs Marie Campbell whose husband George (64) was one of two men killed by Daniel O'Riordan (21) in the early hours of March 25th 2007.

O'Riordan was driving a stolen Audi A4 at 131kph when it crashed straight into Mr Campbell's Renault Megane car.

The accident happened on a section of the Dundalk to Carlingford Road where there is a 60kph speed limit.

Mr Campbell died instantly; he had been turning into the gateway of his home and yesterday his widow said, "I had to move, I couldn't stay in the house afterwards."

People don't realise the consequences of such accidents and speeding she said adding, "I just hope that any young drivers that get into cars without insurance or that are stolen or whatever, that they think of the consequences of the speed they are driving at and the tragedy they leave in their wake. It is unreal and it never ends."

The other victim was 17 year old David Keenan who was a passenger in the Audi and according to O'Riordan one of his "best and closest friends."

O'Riordan from Point Road, Bellurgan, Dundalk had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of the men. However a jury, at the end of a 6 day trial returned unanimous guilty verdicts.

They had heard O'Riordan told gardai he bought the Audi for E500 cash and because of the price he knew it was a ringer (stolen).

As a result of the crash and death of their son the marriage of David's parents has broken down Judge Matt Deery was also told yesterday. The family had not approved of David socialising with O'Riordan.

After O'Riordan was jailed for five years yesterday his father David said, "the sentence doesn't matter to me, it won't bring David back."

"I think justice has been done and I would not like to see anyone or any family go through what we have," he added.

O'Riordan has 23 previous convictions including stealing cars, assault, possession of knives and robbery. He is currently serving a 20 months sentence imposed at Dundalk district court.

The jury heard Gd Sgt Seamus Walsh, a public service vehicle inspector, calculated the Audi to have been travelling at 131kph immediately prior to the crash.

However, Dr Denis Wood, a forensic engineer called by the defence said it was travelling at a maximum of 101kph.

Sgt Walsh also said that if the car had kept to the speed limit there would not have been any collision as he would have been able to stop in time.

Judge Deery yesterday said the crash, "had all the hallmarks of a high speed collision," and he was satisfied O'Riordan had "sufficient opportunity" to avoid the impact.

He was told O'Riordan was the youngest of 11 children in a family "very well known," to gardai.