The mother of Eoghan and Ruairí Chada, who were killed by their father in Co Mayo in July 2012, said she too is serving a life sentence, and has set up a victim support group to press for changes to sentencing.

44-year old Sanjeev Chada  was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 after admitting to what the Central Criminal Court heard was a crime fuelled entirely by mounting gambling debts.

In July 2012, Mr Chada drove his boys Eoghan (10) and Ruairí (5) to Co Mayo, where he strangled them before crashing his car.

He survived the impact and is serving two concurrent life sentences.

Speaking on national radio yesterday, Kathleen Ms Chada said she has set up Save – Sentencing and Victims Equality, together with five families whose lives have been affected by murder.

She says what they want are some changes to sentencing.

Mrs Chada said she knows that, after 10 years, her husband can apply for parole, yet she cannot get early release from her life sentence.

She said “what we want is more account of victims and families of victims.”