A man whose dangerous driving caused a crash that left his friend in a "vegetative state" has been jailed for three years and four months.

John Dowling - of Ros Airgih, Liscarra, Carrick on Shannon in Co Leitrim - had been drinking at his 21st birthday when he got behind the wheel.

Dowling was speeding and over the drink-driving limit when he tried to overtake a car while driving home on August 19th 2017.

He lost control of the car at Drynam Road, Swords in Dublin after hitting a kerb and smashed into a tree and wall.

The passenger side of the car, where his friend Mark Kelly was sitting, took most of the impact.

Mark suffered what were described in court as "devastating injuries".

He has not regained consciousness since and remains in a vegetative state.

Dowling, who is now aged 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm.

Judge Martin Nolan described it as a "tragic case" and noted Mark's family have been devastated by what happened and blamed Dowling for his actions.

He said he had no doubt he was remorseful - but had to take account of the fact he was speeding, over the limit and driving without insurance.

He said he knew it was a "serious misjudgement" but a custodial sentence was unavoidable.

Taking everything into account, he then sentenced him to 40 months in prison.

Reporting by Frank Greaney