Drunk Driver kills 4, gets 4 years, out in 2

seanie_c · 23-09-2013 04:26PM #1

Kevin McArdle was sentenced in October 2011 to 4 years for drink driving which resulted in the deaths of 4 people (incl. 1 unborn child)

He was driving on the wrong side of the road and had previous convictions for driving offenses.

You can read story from October 2011 here.

Well, it won't surprise most of you, he was already released last month . . .

Roisin Connolly, from Fanad, was killed when returning to Dublin after spending Christmas in her native county in 2010.

Kevin McArdle of Longfield, Carrickmacross was released from prison last month.

McArdle was three times over the legal alcohol limit and on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into a car on the Carrickmacross by-pass on December 27th.

Two of his friends were killed along with the passenger in the other car 39 year old teach Roisin and her unborn daughter.

Kevin McArdle was jailed for 4 years and disqualified from driving for 12 years at Carrickmacross Circuit Court in 2011.

The DPP is now appealing against the sentence claiming that it is too lenient as the accused had previous driving convictions and showed limited insight into the devastating consequences of his actions.

McArdle’ s lawyers say he knows his actions were wrong, he has served his time and the appeal should fail.

Ms Connolly was in the car with her husband Stephen at the time.

story here

He gets sentenced to 4 years in 2011 and is already out....

Presumably he was charged with manslaughter but shouldn't he be charged with murder?

It may not have been premeditated despite driving on the wrong side of the road and 3 times over the limit, but 2 years makes a mockery of the entire criminal justice system.

They may as well not bother sending someone like that to jail, just slap him on hand and tell him not to do it again.

MickFleetwood · 23-09-2013 04:30PM

He only served six months per person. :pac:

humbert · 23-09-2013 04:30PM

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

Corkbah · 23-09-2013 04:32PM

seanie_c wrote: »

Kevin McArdle was sentenced in October 2011 to 4 years for drink driving which resulted in the deaths of 4 people (incl. 1 unborn child)

He was driving on the wrong side of the road and had previous convictions for driving offenses.

You can read story from October 2011 here.

Well, it won't surprise most of you, he was already released last month . . .

story here

He gets sentenced to 4 years in 2011 and is already out....

Presumably he was charged with manslaughter but shouldn't he be charged with murder?

It may not have been premeditated despite driving on the wrong side of the road and 3 times over the limit, but 2 years makes a mockery of the entire criminal justice system.

They may as well not bother sending someone like that to jail, just slap him on hand and tell him not to do it again.

the primary difference between murder and manslaughter is premeditation !!

you could spend months and years discussing the flaws with our legal/judicial and criminal system ....but unless you are related to a politician or even several politicians - nothing will change quickly.

there's too much red tape in this country anyway - until the government wants to create a tax, if I had it my way - the criminals would actually get punished ( no welfare payments while they are in prison, reduced welfare payments for criminals, and repeat criminals face loosing state benefits - too many career criminal families in this country and too many repeat criminals)

in this case - the guy has done the crime, he's done the time - system is messed up but cant change the fact that lives have been lost, he has been punished (and has to live with the fact he has killed lives by his actions - some people can move on with their lives others have difficulty) - in my opinion (without reading the facts) - he should have gotten minimum 15yrs (so with our stupid automatic remission it would be at least 10yrs before he gets out)

seanie_c · 23-09-2013 04:35PM

Corkbah wrote: »

the primary difference between murder and manslaughter is premeditation !!

I understand that but he was driving a vehicle 3 times over the legal limit on the wrong side of the road that killed 4 people.

Something like that is murder in my opinion.

And now he's out on the streets again, Ireland is just crazy...
System is an utter joke.

krudler · 23-09-2013 04:35PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

Ah yeah sure if you murdered someone and got 25 years after the first year you'd get the jist of it, forget the other 24 away you go, just don't do it again like.

--Kaiser-- · 23-09-2013 04:36PM

Surely a lifetime ban should be mandatory in such a case? And ten years in prision

whiskeyman · 23-09-2013 04:37PM

Supt Cunningham said gardai estimated McArdle had drunk nine pints of beer and five brandies before getting behind the wheel of his BMW, for which he had no insurance.

May as well get a loaded gun and start randomely firing it into a crowd.
What sentance would a person get for that I wonder?

wp_rathead · 23-09-2013 04:39PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

small bit of justice for the grieving family of the four killed due to his recklessness?

Terry1985 · 23-09-2013 04:40PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

it would increase the chances of him bring beaten to within an inch of his life and sugared boiling water forced down his throat by other inmates.

Corkbah · 23-09-2013 04:40PM

seanie_c wrote: »

I understand that but he was driving a vehicle 3 times over the legal limit on the wrong side of the road that killed 4 people.

Something like that is murder in my opinion.

And now he's out on the streets again, Ireland is just crazy...
System is an utter joke.

I totally agree and from reading the two stories ....driving uninsured in a sports BMW after a feed of drink, refusing to name who was in the car with him - enough said.

he says he hopes the families can forgive him because he cant forgive himself - hopefully he can turn his life around and do some good - but I doubt it, people dont voluntarily drive around without insurance - that is only done by someone with contempt for the rules of the road and the law.... like I said earlier - should have gotten a minimum of 15yrs so it would be 10 before he is released ...but our automatic remission and lenient sentencing keeps the criminals out on the streets and keeps the government bill down - so politicians are happy

Corkbah · 23-09-2013 04:42PM

seanie_c wrote: »

I understand that but he was driving a vehicle 3 times over the legal limit on the wrong side of the road that killed 4 people.

Something like that is murder in my opinion.

And now he's out on the streets again, Ireland is just crazy...
System is an utter joke.

if he gets behind the wheel of a car in the next 8yrs it will show how remorseful he actually is.

could be a good story for the Sunday Indo

Specialun · 23-09-2013 04:47PM

Just wondering but if you are remorseful in prison do you get a better sky TV package?

JustAThought · 23-09-2013 04:48PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

It would protect the rest of us - and our children - from feckless hardened criminals like him.

It would focus the attention of the rest of the slap head don't give a s**t " community" hat there are real consequences to their actions . They don't care about other peoples lives nd safety, perhaps a dose of punitive incarceration will make them realise it's not a good idea to repeatedly break the law - and multiple laws at that .

We should do as they do in Japan - one named visitor per month, hard labour, no TV's/ phones/cushy cells etc.

At least our streets would be guaranteed to be safer then. We all know the laws as they currently stand don't work.

I don't want him to pretend he's sorry ; I want him to pay.

c_man · 23-09-2013 04:50PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

Sure what's the point in putting him in prison at all

McTigs · 23-09-2013 04:55PM

What ever about jail, if he had previous violations before aswell as this then it should be a lifetime driving ban. No ifs no buts. The standard of driving and respect for the road and others on it in this country is shockingly poor and this is why, there is is **** all consequences.

josip · 23-09-2013 05:05PM

Maybe if he can't forgive himself as he claims, he will do something appropriate and redemptive.

Corkbah · 23-09-2013 05:05PM

JustAThought wrote: »

It would protect the rest of us - and our children - from feckless hardened criminals like him.

It would focus the attention of the rest of the slap head don't give a s**t " community" hat there are real consequences to their actions . They don't care about other peoples lives nd safety, perhaps a dose of punitive incarceration will make them realise it's not a good idea to repeatedly break the law - and multiple laws at that .

We should do as they do in Japan - one named visitor per month, hard labour, no TV's/ phones/cushy cells etc.

At least our streets would be guaranteed to be safer then. We all know the laws as they currently stand don't work.

I don't want him to pretend he's sorry ; I want him to pay.

He's hardly a hardened criminal !!

no mention of previous convictions - so we have to assume he has none, to me it looks like he was an idiot who drank loads and drove recklessly causing the deaths of several people - should he be taken off the streets (YES), should he be locked up for several years (YES), should he be entitled to automatic remission (NO - automatic remission should be removed let prisoners make an effort to change to get time off for good behaviour)

we all know our legal/judicial/penal ...infact most of the systems we have in this country need reform (Health, political etc etc) .... problem is those that can make the changes won't because there are too many "friends" who may loose out financially.

if our government was to concentrate on road safety there would be a blanket enforcement of the laws - unfortunately some of the laws are simply stupid and some are difficult to enforce....so the powers that be don't want to change them.

I would much rather see the government spend money on making all the bus lanes in the country one colour (if someone is driving in a bus lane - instant fine - no appeal unless you can prove it was not your car), have motion activated cameras at every set of lights recording when they turn amber - if a person goes through a set of lights ... fine issued.
Anyone drink-driving minimum 10yrs jail - choosing to drink and drive regardless of how little or how much over the limit you are shows you have contempt for others on the roads, if someone wants to goto a pub in a rural area - let the pub organise transport...they can charge their customers if they wish.

fryup · 23-09-2013 05:11PM

it sickens me, he must have contacts

josip · 23-09-2013 05:17PM

Corkbah wrote: »

He's hardly a hardened criminal !!

no mention of previous convictions - so we have to assume he has none,

The OP said he had previous convictions

"the accused had previous driving convictions"

dodderangler · 23-09-2013 05:21PM

You'd get more for not having a telly licence or not picking up after your dog.

humbert · 23-09-2013 05:25PM

JustAThought wrote: »

It would protect the rest of us - and our children - from feckless hardened criminals like him.

It would focus the attention of the rest of the slap head don't give a s**t " community" hat there are real consequences to their actions . They don't care about other peoples lives nd safety, perhaps a dose of punitive incarceration will make them realise it's not a good idea to repeatedly break the law - and multiple laws at that .

We should do as they do in Japan - one named visitor per month, hard labour, no TV's/ phones/cushy cells etc.

At least our streets would be guaranteed to be safer then. We all know the laws as they currently stand don't work.

I don't want him to pretend he's sorry ; I want him to pay.

A longer suspension from driving would serve to protect the community from him better and I don't believe four years in jail would deter anyone from drink-driving more effectively than two.

The purpose of jail is not retribution.

For Forks Sake · 23-09-2013 05:30PM

dodderangler wrote: »

You'd get more for not having a telly licence or not picking up after your dog.

No. No you wouldn't.

MonaPizza · 23-09-2013 06:02PM

seanie_c wrote: »

I understand that but he was driving a vehicle 3 times over the legal limit on the wrong side of the road that killed 4 people.

Something like that is murder in my opinion.

And now he's out on the streets again, Ireland is just crazy...
System is an utter joke.

The fool probably didn't know what side of the road he was on or was so trashed he probably doesn't remember any of it. That he was on the wrong side of the road is hard to equate to the intention of killing someone with his car. Ramming a car and killing someone or driving after them, knocking them down and reversing over them and killing them is most definitely murder. Killing someone in an accidental car crash (even if drunk) can really only be classed as vehicular manslaughter.

MickFleetwood · 23-09-2013 06:46PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

What does leaving him out after two years achieve considering he got completely drunk, got in a car and killed four people? :rolleyes:

Artful_Badger · 23-09-2013 07:01PM

humbert wrote: »

What would the extra two years actually achieve?

He served time in jail, no licence for 12 years and has to live knowing he killed his pals. He's not exactly getting off lightly to live his life while the families try pick up the pieces.

An extra two years inside wouldnt achieve anything else imo. But thats not to say though that people should be serving half their sentences. Sentencing and time served in this country is a joke for the most part.

Kristopherus · 23-09-2013 07:08PM

Artful_Badger wrote: »

He served time in jail, no licence for 12 years and has to live knowing he killed his pals. He's not exactly getting off lightly to live his life while the families try pick up the pieces.

An extra two years inside wouldnt achieve anything else imo. But thats not to say though that people should be serving half their sentences. Sentencing and time served in this country is a joke for the most part.

IMO he should have got 12 years in Jail and then 12 more off the road whe/if he gets out.:mad:

NuckingFacker · 23-09-2013 07:49PM

I'd be glad to see him out if this had been my wife.. we could chat.

patrickbrophy18 · 23-09-2013 07:49PM

The fact of the matter is he had a previous conviction for drink driving. Also, there have been countless advertising campaigns in Ireland and internationally to deter people from getting behind the wheel of a car if any alcohol is consumed. In spite of these two facts, Kevin McArdle still decided to drive when he was many times over the legal limit and four deaths were the direct result if it. In effect, he broke one law (drink driving) only to break another law four fold (manslaughter murder of Roisin Connolly and her family) having broken another law (driving on the wrong side of the road) in the interim. Here* is an example of the long term pain drink driving can cause.

*: Viewer discretion is advised as the video is extremely graphic which some may find distressing. For this reason, I didn't embed the video into this post!

Bottom line, never ever drink and drive!

LuckyLloyd · 23-09-2013 08:00PM

seanie_c wrote: »

I understand that but he was driving a vehicle 3 times over the legal limit on the wrong side of the road that killed 4 people.

Something like that is murder in my opinion.

And now he's out on the streets again, Ireland is just crazy...
System is an utter joke.

Actually, it seems like you don't seem to understand judging by the rest of your post.

Mahogany Gaspipe · 23-09-2013 08:02PM

Specialun wrote: »

Just wondering but if you are remorseful in prison do you get a better sky TV package?

Just saw a picture of him there; fine set of lugs on him, he could probably receive many sky channels from them if he knew which part of the sky to point them towards.

Drunk Driver kills 4, gets 4 years, out in 2

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