Longer sentence for dangerous driver welcomed

THE decision by the Court of Appeal yesterday to find that the sentence imposed on a man whose dangerous driving caused eight deaths was too lenient will be widely welcomed.

Shaun Kelly, aged 27, of Hill Rd, Ballymagan, Buncrana, Co Donegal, had originally been sentenced to four years in jail with the final two suspended.

He was to serve two years even though he was responsible for eight deaths.

In that context his new sentence — eight years’ imprisonment with the final four suspended — even seems lax, especially as his case was described in court as the worst fatal collision and the worst case of dangerous driving in the history of the State.

Though the Court of Appeal is an option if it is felt that a sentence does not truly reflect society’s wishes, we have a convention that our judges are independent and must not be influenced by Government — the citizens’ representatives.

This aloofness is an anachronism and should be challenged.

Judges exist to protect and represent society and how society regards various offences.

In too many instances the idea of judicial independence has been taken too far.