Witnessing a bloody murder in a Melbourne share house sent an Irish roof tiler on a path to a drunken car crash and an attempt to bribe a witness not to call police.
James Purcell, 24, was doing 96km/h in a 60km/h zone on April 26 last year when he crashed into a tree head-on in Oakleigh.
As his life-long friend Albert Dunne lay unconscious in the passenger seat, Purcell drunkenly urged four witnesses not to call police.
He offered one $1000 not to call anyone because he knew he'd be done for drink-driving.
Purcell pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent driving causing injury and was sentenced to a community corrections order in the Victorian County Court on Friday.
Judge John Smallwood said Purcell had been a light and infrequent drinker before witnessing a violent murder in an Ashwood share house in 2012.
He tried to save the victim and ended up covered in their blood as he called for help.
Justice Smallwood said witnessing the murder had significantly changed Purcell.
"You felt completely powerless and overwhelmed by the experience," he said on Friday.
Purcell started drinking heavily after that, and was found with a 0.123 blood alcohol reading on the night of the crash.
Mr Dunne was left with spinal fractures and an ongoing cognitive impairment.
Purcell expressed "extreme remorse" after the crash and has not had a drink since.
The Purcells and the Dunnes have been close in Ireland for generations and Purcell has support from his wider family - with more than 100 first cousins - and the Dunnes.
"You are a very fortunate man indeed that you have the forgiveness of the whole Dunne family," Justice Smallwood said.
Purcell was sentenced to a community corrections order for three years but he has been in immigration detention for four months as his visa ran out while the court case went ahead.
Prosecutors have up to 28 days to decide whether to appeal his sentence, otherwise he will be deported back to Ireland.
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