Eoghan and Ruairi Chada Source: Garda Press Office

SANJEEV CHADA PLEADED guilty to the murder of his two sons, Eoghan and Ruairí Chada, and has been sentenced to two mandatory life sentences.

Justice Paul Carney imposes two mandatory life sentences on Sanjeev Chadha for murder of sons Eoghan and Ruairi. — Dan Mac Guill (@danmacg) October 7, 2014 Source: Dan Mac Guill /Twitter

The two young boys, aged 10 and five, were found dead in Mayo on 29 July following a single-car crash in Westport. Their bodies were found in the boot of the vehicle.

The boys had been reported missing the previous evening and gardaí had issued a child rescue alert.

Outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this afternoon, solicitor Justin Cody was joined by Kathleen Chada and her family, and said, “the correct verdict was arrived at today.”

Earlier, a solicitor had read a statement on behalf Sanjeev Chada, stating that he was “truly sorry and heartbroken” for the grief he has caused, and referring to his sons as his “best friends.”

In statement read by solicitor, Sanjeev Chadha said "I am truly sorry + heartbroken for grief I have caused," called sons his "best friends" — Dan Mac Guill (@danmacg) October 7, 2014 Source: Dan Mac Guill /Twitter

During her victim impact statement this afternoon, the boys’ mother, Kathleen Chada, said, “There is no joy in my life.”

Sanj has left me to live a double life sentence every day, with no chance of release in my lifetime.

She also described her sons as “bright, happy, sporty, popular and gorgeous boys,” and showed Justice Paul Carney a framed photo of them.

She said Eoghan had wanted to be a farmer, chef, Kilkenny hurler, and “a golfer like Rory McIlroy” when he grew up, and that Ruairi “always knew he had his big brother looking out for him.”

They had such potential, which was cut down with such cruel violence by their father, whom they adored. He was their hero.

How could evil such as this have been hidden for so long? How can he have been so selfish?

Sanjeev Chada arriving at Swinford District Court last August. Source: PA

Earlier, the court heard that the boys were strangled and that Chada told Gardaí he killed his sons because he feared for his marriage and did not want to see them grow up in a broken home.

A psychiatric expert today told the court that the guilty man likely had a gambling disorder, but knew murdering his two sons was wrong when he did it.

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The court was also told that he had used tens of thousands of euro of community funding to bet on the stock markets.

A statement from the expert said Chada had deluded himself into thinking that his “system” for online trading would eventually work.

When it didn’t, and his creditors pursued him for debts, Chada was filled with “shame, despair, hopelessness and fear of abandonment by his wife.”

The accused had attempted to take his own life after he killed his sons, and the court was told today that he had been under observation at the Central Mental Hospital since the murders last July.

The 44 year old was charged with their murders at Swinford District Court last August. At that time, he told the judge that he was “sorry” and wished he “hadn’t done it”.

Additional reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll