Two years for killing someone

RasTa

Leaving the scene, disqualified from driving but he had a hard upbringing and has turned his life around so we better not inconvenience him too much.

This has really pissed me off

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/twoyear-sentence-for-driver-who-killed-cyclist-after-running-red-light-34827328.html

smash

He had been banned from driving at the time and had never held a driving licence.
...
He also admitted leaving the scene of the crash and to driving without insurance.
...
Garda Linda Connaughton told the court that Coleman has 15 previous convictions including four for driving without insurance. In November 2012 a court disqualified him from driving for six years. He was also disqualified from driving in January 2012 and in February 2009.
...
Judge Greally said after reviewing the authorities and factors in the case she had placed it at the lower half of the medium band.
...
He went to gardaí six days after the collision and told them that he took full responsibility.

Jesus christ

andekwarhola

!!!!

There was cheering and roaring coming from the car shortly before the collision.

Garda Linda Connaughton told the court that Coleman has 15 previous convictions including four for driving without insurance. In November 2012 a court disqualified him from driving for six years. He was also disqualified from driving in January 2012 and in February 2009.

stereo_steve

Scumbag.

The part that bothers me so much is that this wasn't an isolated mistake. It was a series of deliberate violations and disregard of the law. No license, no insurance, speeding,breaking a light, leaving the scene etc

I fail to see what he contributes to society and why he needs to be out in two years.

Barry Badrinath

15 previous convictions
Dangerous driving
Disqualified from driving 3 times previously
Speeding

Then he kills a man

2.5 years jail.

Bravo Judge, Bravo.

alchemist33

stereo_steve wrote: »

Scumbag.

The part that bothers me so much is that this wasn't an isolated mistake. It was a series of deliberate violations and disregard of the law. No license, no insurance, speeding,breaking a light, leaving the scene etc

I fail to see what he contributes to society and why he needs to be out in two years.

And sure he'll keep on driving then. What's to stop him?

Letree

Having previous driving convictions should have been a very major factor in sentencing. Not some woolly rubbish about a tough upbringing.

Fleawuss

The same old story again and again. Another life smashed away and a list of empty nonsense to excuse the fool who did it. And worst of all, people think it is the way to do things. The perpetrator has started a new life blah blah blah. I despair.

Roger Hassenforder

McGruber wrote: »

Then he kills a man

And drives off...

We should have an island somewhere we can abandon these fcukers on. For ever.

eviltwin

Complete joke of a sentence. I heard the victim impact statement from his wife. Not only did she lose her husband but because he ran the family business it went under so.she lost that too. Two years is nothing.

smash

Fleawuss wrote: »

The same old story again and again. Another life smashed away and a list of empty nonsense to excuse the fool who did it. And worst of all, people think it is the way to do things. The perpetrator has started a new life blah blah blah. I despair.

It's really the barristers here though. They shouldn't be allowed put forward the tough upbringing line when there's multiple previous convictions. The barrister even commended him for "manning up" ffs.

Sterling Archer

What an untter scumbag... I wish only bad things for him

the groutch

the real question is why he wasn't given jail time from any of his 15 previous offences, which might have taught him some cop-on before this happened.

obriendj

smash wrote: »

It's really the barristers here though. They shouldn't be allowed put forward the tough upbringing line when there's multiple previous convictions. The barrister even commended him for "manning up" ffs.

You can blame the barrister but it is the Judge that listened to and believed that crap.
I dont excuse barristers for making up what ever they can to try get an easier sentence but it is the responsibility of the Judge to see that it is crap and look at the facts.

Sapphire

the groutch wrote: »

the real question is why he wasn't given jail time from any of his 15 previous offences, which might have taught him some cop-on before this happened.

See: hard upbringing.

I reckon his sh!te childhood pass is good for about 10 more convictions before he uses it all up and gets six months jail time.

MilesMorales1

I'm so sick of hearing this hard upbringing ****. Lots of us have hard upbringings, I know I did. Most of us don't use that an excuse to go round committing crimes, being scumbags, or killing people. **** right off with that ****.

Dyr

Really simple solution: take sentencing out of judges hands. Put sentencing to a board with only the charge and the verdict available to them, any considerations that the defendant or prosecution want to submit to the board are made in writing only, no barristers.

Harry Angstrom

I wonder if the judge would have been so understanding if it had been a member of her own family who was killed in such cruel and heartless circumstances? Judges seem to live on another planet to the rest of us, and they're partly responsible for the lack of obedience of road traffic laws when they hand out such lenient sentences.

Hopefully the DPP will appeal against this ridiculous sentence and that scumbag driver will get what he deserves.

mimimcmc

This makes me sick! He should've easily gotten life in jail considering all those previous convictions! And life isn't even enough...he'll come straight out and drive again just like he did before..

kupus

The law and order judicial industry is really showcasing how much of a joke it is. What's next in line, maybe a comedy sketch show from castlerea prison starring des bishop as judge James and his quest to have every prisoner turned into a lawyer.

Kristopherus

smash wrote: »

It's really the barristers here though. They shouldn't be allowed put forward the tough upbringing line when there's multiple previous convictions. The barrister even commended him for "manning up" ffs.

Those same barristers are paid for by the taxpayers:mad:

SEPT 23 1989

I would have given him 5 years alone for that beard haircut combination

Cessna_Pilot

Kristopherus wrote: »

Those same barristers are paid for by the taxpayers:mad:

And therein lies a lot of the problem. The revolving door cash machine for the business of barristers and judges.

Makes me sick, absolutely sick.

Bandana boy

He had a ban from driving in 2009 and again in Jan 2012 which he broke in Nov 2012
At that point he should have got at least 5 years , he had his two chances and showed he was going to continue to ignore them.
He needs to be removed from society for the protection of others , this sentence must be challenged , How are our Judges so far from reality and how can they be so callous to the victims of crime.

Is there a way for a citizen to challenge the capability of a judge to do his job ?

leahyl

Heard about this case a few weeks ago and was horrified, the poor man that was killed, the victim impact statement from his daughter was harrowing. That bastard then gets 2 years in jail because he's apparently turned his life around?! Well whoop de doo, that man is still dead though!!!

omahaid

I sure the usual defenders of daft judges and pathetic sentences will be along soon. This sentence, like many others, is a disgrace. Hopefully it will be appealed by the DPP

Gmaximum

Joke of a sentence. I remember there was a thread in the cycling forum about the incident itself last year. Complete strangers expressing concern for the victim

The judge described it at the "lower half of the medium band" This scumbag has previous convictions left the scene after killing some. How he's ever going to be released from prison let alone get behind the wheel of a car is an absolute joke

the groutch

And due to "good behaviour" it will likely be a fair bit less than two and half years.

Two Tone

The "sorry" stuff is bullsh-t too. If a person was truly concerned about the damage such recklessness would cause... they wouldn't do it in the first place! He's only sorry because of the consequences, not for doing it. It's because he feels bad and to make him feel better, not the man's loved ones.

ThisRegard

Wouldn't it be great if the family could sue the state due to their woeful inactions on his many previous convictions, arguing that he should have been in prison at the time.

ScumLord

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I'm so sick of hearing this hard upbringing ****. Lots of us have hard upbringings, I know I did. Most of us don't use that an excuse to go round committing crimes, being scumbags, or killing people. **** right off with that ****.

It's not about an excuse. The fact is urban areas with poor economic prospects generate people like this, it's what keeps happening all over the world, Human behaviour is a byproduct of the environment they live in. As much as this guys a scumbag, society has to take some responsibility if we know certain conditions generate people like this and we do nothing about it then we can't really complain when they keep happening.

Seeing as our courts have no spine to fight these people after the fact the only other option is social engineering, remove the environment that generates people like this. We're certainly not going to be able to convince the adult version of these people not to be scumbags.

Fakman87

We need vigilante justice lads. Get a group of 5000 people together and you'll never be able to prosecute them all for taking the law into their own hands.

I had an unbelievably easy upbringing. Should my sentence but more extreme, heaven forbid I commit such a heinous crime

jonasjones

ScumLord wrote: »

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I'm so sick of hearing this hard upbringing ****. Lots of us have hard upbringings, I know I did. Most of us don't use that an excuse to go round committing crimes, being scumbags, or killing people. **** right off with that ****.

It's not about an excuse. The fact is urban areas with poor economic prospects generate people like this, it's what keeps happening all over the world, Human behaviour is a byproduct of the environment they live in. As much as this guys a scumbag, society has to take some responsibility if we know certain conditions generate people like this and we do nothing about it then we can't really complain when they keep happening.

Seeing as our courts have no spine to fight these people after the fact the only other option is social engineering, remove the environment that generates people like this. We're certainly not going to be able to convince the adult version of these people not to be scumbags.

Everything you said is true, no doubt. But do you really think a nation that can't even get it's judicial system to work in any reasonable fashion can address the low level socio-economic issues at the heart of this problem? I hope we can do both, but the simpler solution here has to be at the judicial level.

jonasjones

Sorry, double posted. Is there any way of deleting this post?

15 previous convictions, and then he kills this poor man. In giving him 2.5 years (out of a maximum 10 years) Judge Melanie Greally failed to protect our society. With one-third remission Christopher Coleman could be out in 20 months to endanger lives. Shame on not only this judgement but on this judge.

Kimbot

Two Tone wrote: »

The "sorry" stuff is bullsh-t too. If a person was truly concerned about the damage such recklessness would cause... they wouldn't do it in the first place! He's only sorry because of the consequences, not for doing it. It's because he feels bad and to make him feel better, not the man's loved ones.

He's only sorry because he was caught.... if he wasnt caught then there would be no remorse. How any sick animal could leave a person for dead and then hide away for 6 days deserves to be wiped off the face of the earth!

Kimbot

Deleted User wrote: »

15 previous convictions, and then he kills this poor man. In giving him 2.5 years (out of a maximum 10 years) Judge Melanie Greally failed to protect our society. With one-third remission Christopher Coleman could be out in 20 months to endanger lives. Shame on not only this judgement but on this judge.

remission is only 1/4?

ScumLord

jonasjones wrote: »

Everything you said is true, no doubt. But do you really think a nation that can't even get it's judicial system to work in any reasonable fashion can address the low level socio-economic issues at the heart of this problem? I hope we can do both, but the simpler solution here has to be at the judicial level.

I don't accept the "we're to stupid to do it right" argument we might as well roll over and die if that's our attitude to everything.

sbsquarepants

Some judges in this country should be ashamed of themselves.
It's great to hear that the offence of killing of your husband / brother / father rates at the lower end of medium.
What a fúcking disgraceful sentence.

jonnycivic

jonnycivic wrote: »

remission is only 1/4?

Yes, normally it's 25%. However, according to the usually reliable Citizens' Information website, 'On application by a prisoner, the Minister for Justice and Equality can grant enhanced remission of up to one third of the sentence. The prisoner must have shown further good conduct by engaging in authorised structured activities and the Minister must be satisfied that, as a result, the prisoner is less likely to re-offend and will be better able to reintegrate into the community.'

jjpep

Hopeless. It just makes you want to give up living here.

Fakman87

Fakman87 wrote: »

We need vigilante justice lads. Get a group of 5000 people together and you'll never be able to prosecute them all for taking the law into their own hands.

And what would you do to people who drive dangerously?

Break their legs?

What action would your mob take? Develop your point a little anyway.

MilesMorales1

If he was really sorry, he wouldn't have tried to mitigate his sentence by claiming his hard upbringing nonsense, he wouldn't have driven away, and he wouldn't offer any excuse at all, he'd take his punishment and get on with it.


Also how does someone rack up so many infractions for driving with no insurance and yet have little driving experience?

retro:electro

This case actually makes me feel sick. He's nothing but a disgusting imbecile who never had any regard for the law. 2 years is a fcuking insult. Disgraceful.

lawlolawl

I'm sure this guy will be rehabilitated and go on to be a really productive member of society like all those high profile cases we hear about such as uh...... that one guy and um......... that other guy who i totally swear exists.

/ignores 15 previous convictions that had no effect on him

Let's just build more cages for the utterly worthless people in our society. I'll take a doubling in income tax to see that happen.

BattleCorp

[Deleted User] wrote: »

And what would you do to people who drive dangerously?

Break their legs?
.

Not for a first offence of dangerous driving.

Break them if he does it again because clearly you haven't gotten his attention.

If he does it a third time, then break his spinal cord just below his neck.

People would start to get the message real quick then.

Of course you do realise that I don't mean what I just said. But it's interesting thinking about it.

Judge said he was a low risk of reoffending, yet he had been disqualified three times in the past five years. The guy is a serial offender.


I would have asked what bit of 'disqualified ' he didnt understand and given him 10 years.


Why is it that serial criminals who had an unfortunate upbringing are given soft treatment by our dysfunctional 'justice' system? . It's all wrong.

Mint Aero

So he lied about trying to stop for the amber light and won't confess to what speed he was actually doing? Scumbag chicken sh*t

genericguy

I'd say that judge will feel a right spastic when tomorrow's papers castigate her.

Nothing will change until law and order becomes an election issue.

All people cared about were water charges and USC.

We don't have enough prison spaces to jail our offenders so sentences are lenient and in very few cases do they finish more than half the sentence.

There's nothing unusual about the sentence here, same across the board each and every day.

Great country to be a criminal in when you're not afraid of doing a few months... Can live it up.