A man whose car killed  an American tourist in Ireland was barefoot while driving and using his cell phone at the time of the crash an Irish inquest has been told.

Annette Jean Scott (51) from Jackson, Wyoming, an American was killed in the car crash in Swinford, County Mayo on the evening of May 29th, 2009.

Her companion, Chris Burnside, from  Idaho, was badly injured but has made a full recovery.

Both women worked for a travel agency in Jackson, Wyoming and were vacationing in Ireland.

It has also emerged that the driver of the other car Declan Gallagher of Maynooth, Co Kildare had made 83 cellphone calls while driving from Kidare to Mayo.

He denied he was on the cell phone when he crashed but police said it was highly likely he was.

Gallagher claimed he was talking to  to his five-year-old son when he lost control and the car veered across the road.

Judge Raymond Groarke imposed a three-year prison sentence suspended for three years and banned  him from  driving for 10 years.