A Spanish court has sentenced Francisco José Garzón Amo, the train driver, and Andrés Cortabitarte, the former director of safety at ADIF, to two and a half years in prison for their roles in the tragic Alvia train derailment that occurred on July 24, 2013, in Santiago de Compostela.

The accident claimed 80 lives and injured 145 others.

The court found both men guilty of 79 counts of homicide and 143 counts of serious negligence.

The judge highlighted the lack of safety measures, such as an automatic braking system, which left the driver solely responsible for controlling the train's speed.

Additionally, the court ordered them to pay over 25 million euros in compensation to the victims and their families.

This ruling comes after a lengthy legal battle that lasted over a decade, with victims' families demanding accountability and justice for the preventable disaster.