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Death driver's sentence increase Death driver's sentence increase
(about 1 hour later)
A teenage drunk driver who killed two men in County Down has had his jail sentence increased to seven years.A teenage drunk driver who killed two men in County Down has had his jail sentence increased to seven years.
The Court of Appeal quashed the "unduly lenient" original four-year term imposed on Christopher McGinn.The Court of Appeal quashed the "unduly lenient" original four-year term imposed on Christopher McGinn.
The 18-year-old had been sent to a young offenders' centre for fatally crashing into two cars on the Dublin Road in Newry in October 2006.The 18-year-old had been sent to a young offenders' centre for fatally crashing into two cars on the Dublin Road in Newry in October 2006.
Taxi driver Stephen Shields, 44 from the city, and Drumintee man Gerald Feron, 26, died in the collision.Taxi driver Stephen Shields, 44 from the city, and Drumintee man Gerald Feron, 26, died in the collision.
McGinn, then aged 16 and from Mountain View Villas, Camlough, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Carina vehicle he bought for 200 euros hours before the accident, and was driving without a licence or insurance. McGinn, then aged 16 and from Mountain View Villas, Camlough, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Carina vehicle he bought for £200 hours before the accident, and was driving without a licence or insurance.
He sustained a brain injury, while two passengers with him were also badly hurt.He sustained a brain injury, while two passengers with him were also badly hurt.
McGinn later pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and without insurance.McGinn later pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and without insurance.
Driving banDriving ban
As well as the jail sentence handed down in April this year, he was banned from driving for 10 years.As well as the jail sentence handed down in April this year, he was banned from driving for 10 years.
But amid anger at the length of imprisonment, the case was referred back to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General.But amid anger at the length of imprisonment, the case was referred back to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General.
Delivering judgment, Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr backed Crown arguments the trial judge gave disproportionate weight to the effect a sentence requiring incarceration in an adult prison would have had on someone as young as McGinn.Delivering judgment, Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr backed Crown arguments the trial judge gave disproportionate weight to the effect a sentence requiring incarceration in an adult prison would have had on someone as young as McGinn.
He said: "Making every allowance for the laudable aim of protecting the offender from the influence of older criminals, we do not believe that the adjustment required to achieve that objective could be justified on that account alone."He said: "Making every allowance for the laudable aim of protecting the offender from the influence of older criminals, we do not believe that the adjustment required to achieve that objective could be justified on that account alone."
Sir Brian added: "We therefore quash the sentences imposed by the learned trial judge on the first four counts and substitute for those a sentence of seven years' imprisonment on each of those counts, all sentences to run concurrently."Sir Brian added: "We therefore quash the sentences imposed by the learned trial judge on the first four counts and substitute for those a sentence of seven years' imprisonment on each of those counts, all sentences to run concurrently."