An Italian man has been jailed over the deaths of two Irish tourists killed in a hit-and-run incident in Rome earlier this week.
Friedrich Vernarelli (32), from Rome, had been under house arrest since the incident in which Elizabeth Anne Gubbins (27), from Lisnagry, Co Limerick, and Mary Claire Collins (28), from Athy, Co Kildare were killed by a car at a pedestrian crossing in Rome city centre on Tuesday morning.
Vernarelli, who was formally charged with manslaughter, failure to offer assistance and drunken driving, will await trial in prison.
During the hearing, Vernarelli admitted to drinking on the night of the crash. Reports earlier claimed he was four and half times above the legal alcohol limit for driving.
The court heard Vernarelli had indicated he was willing to go to jail.
No date has yet been set for the trial.
