DISGUSTED; Family of teen killed by drink-drive rugby star Halvey outraged as he escapes prison.

Byline: MICHELLE O'KEEFFE

THE devastated family of a teenager killed by drink-driving rugby star Eddie Halvey yesterday said they were disgusted he escaped prison.

Kevin Walsh, 16, died instantly when the jeep driven by Halvey collided with the car in which the youngster was a back seat passenger, near Toomevara, Co Tipperary in on April 1, 2006.

The former Irish international yesterday got a seven-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Kevin's heartbroken mum Kate Walsh, from Bruff, Co Limerick, said the ex-Munster player should never expect her forgiveness.

She said: "I feel very bitter towards Eddie Halvey.

"Just because he is a sportsman and played for Ireland he gets slapped on the wrist in court today.

"His sentence sends out the wrong message to everyone in Ireland that they can go out and play sports, drink-drive, kill someone and you won't get punished in court for it.

CHEATED

"Kevin was cruelly cheated of his life. I will never forgive or forget Eddie Halvey." Kevin, who celebrated his 16th birthday days earlier, was in the back of a BMW when the smash happened just after 5am on the N7 near Nenagh. He was rushed to Nenagh General Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

Halvey, 38, of Alandale Hall, South Circular Road, Limerick, who was capped eight times for Ireland, was arrested at the scene and later charged with drink-driving.

Kevin was the only son of Kate and Jim Walsh, who have an older daughter, Amanda, 20. In January 2008 Kevin's family were told the DPP had decided to withdraw the charge of dangerous driving.

His office reversed this decision after more than 20,000 people signed a petition but a sitting of the Circuit Court in Nenagh heard that forensic difficulties had emerged and the DPP accepted the lesser charge of careless driving.

Halvey, who was twice the legal alcohol limit, said he was truly sorry for what he had done to Kate Walsh and her family and did not expect forgiveness.

He was also disqualified from driving for seven years.

Former rugby international Mick Galwey spoke on behalf of Halvey saying he was remorseful. His counsel said he had been on antidepressants after the crash and there had been an issue of self-harm.

CAPTION(S):

TRAGIC Kevin Walsh died in April 2006 OUTRAGE Kate and family speak out after yesterday's hearing in Nenagh OUTRAGE Kate and family speak out after yesterday's hearing in Nenagh SENTENCE Eddie Halvey at court yesterday