The widow of a man who was killed while trying to be a "good Samaritan" has said her husband was friend's with his killer's mother.

A disqualified driver was yesterday jailed for six and a half years after he killed Eamon Cronin (50).

Witnesses stated that Desmond Collopy (29) was showing off and jerking the steering wheel before he struck Mr Cronin.

He had just crossed the road to try and break up a fight, and was almost on the footpath when he was hit.

Mr Cronin, a bank official, was described in court as a good Samaritan, a true gentleman and the love of his wife's life.

Collopy, who had six ongoing disqualifications orders over him at the time, never stopped at the scene.

He told the back seat passengers in his Volkswagen Golf that someone had just thrown a bottle at his car.

Collopy of Landen Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing death on August 16th, 2014.

Mr Cronin's widow, Jane Fitzsimons, told Newstalk Lunchtime how events unfolded.

"I had woken up early in the morning and he wasn't in the bed beside me - so I got an awful fright because he had been out the night before for a drink but he obviously meant to come home," she said.

She said she talked to him at around 2:50am, when he told her he would be home soon.

But when she called his phone later, a garda answered and then came to her house to tell her what happened.

On Desmond Collopy, Ms Fitsimons says she forgives him totally - and that there is more to this story.

"I forgive him - absolutely, totally forgive him and I feel there's a bigger picture to this".

"I prayed for him this morning and I prayed for his mam this morning - cause I met his mother yesterday...and there's a bigger picture in this because my husband knew her because she was the cleaning lady in (the) Baggot Street branch".

"I remember Eamon talking about her and we prayed for her son a few years ago".

Listen to the full interview below: