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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Dad 'disgusted' by crash sentence | Dad 'disgusted' by crash sentence |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The father of a 14-year-old girl knocked down and killed in September 2007 said his family has received "no justice". | The father of a 14-year-old girl knocked down and killed in September 2007 said his family has received "no justice". |
| On Monday at Belfast Crown Court Michael Thomas McDonnell, 20, pleaded guilty to killing Adele Whiteside by dangerous driving. | |
| McDonnell, from Garnock in west Belfast, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, suspended for three years. | McDonnell, from Garnock in west Belfast, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, suspended for three years. |
| Adele was returning home from a wedding when she was knocked down. | Adele was returning home from a wedding when she was knocked down. |
| In the sentencing remarks, the court heard that Adele was thrown into the air as she was hit by the car, and was knocked a distance of 52.5m (170ft). | |
| Forensic examination of the scene found that after the initial impact with McDonnell's car, Adele struck another, parked, car, decreasing the distance she travelled. | Forensic examination of the scene found that after the initial impact with McDonnell's car, Adele struck another, parked, car, decreasing the distance she travelled. |
| From her final resting place, a forensic scientist concluded that McDonnell was driving at an "absolute minimum of 47mph". | |
| However, he also said that in his opinion, if Adele had not struck the parked car she would have been thrown further. | However, he also said that in his opinion, if Adele had not struck the parked car she would have been thrown further. |
| He said that would have allowed a more accurate, and higher, calculation of the defendant's speed. | He said that would have allowed a more accurate, and higher, calculation of the defendant's speed. |
| 'Closure' | 'Closure' |
| Alan Whiteside said the family was 'appalled and disgusted' | Alan Whiteside said the family was 'appalled and disgusted' |
| Speaking outside the court Alan Whiteside said the family was "appalled and disgusted". | Speaking outside the court Alan Whiteside said the family was "appalled and disgusted". |
| "How can you take a life and have a sentence suspended?" he said. | |
| "We were hoping today would have been some sort of closure, now it's never going to close. I wouldn't have agreed to accepting the guilty plea if I had known he was only going to get 18 months." | "We were hoping today would have been some sort of closure, now it's never going to close. I wouldn't have agreed to accepting the guilty plea if I had known he was only going to get 18 months." |
| Adele's sister Alannah broke down as she spoke outside court. | Adele's sister Alannah broke down as she spoke outside court. |
| "I'm an only child again. I don't have a sister, my two babies don't have an auntie," she said. | "I'm an only child again. I don't have a sister, my two babies don't have an auntie," she said. |
| "I'm never going to have a niece or a nephew because he took her away from me." | "I'm never going to have a niece or a nephew because he took her away from me." |
| Adele, a pupil at Dunmurry High School, was knocked down as she crossed Finaghy Road South in Belfast with three friends. | Adele, a pupil at Dunmurry High School, was knocked down as she crossed Finaghy Road South in Belfast with three friends. |
| 'Life needlessly lost' | 'Life needlessly lost' |
| In court on Monday Judge Miller said there appeared to be no identifiable answer, from the eye witnesses or the defendant, as to why the accident took place. | In court on Monday Judge Miller said there appeared to be no identifiable answer, from the eye witnesses or the defendant, as to why the accident took place. |
| McDonnell admitted to driving too fast and that he failed to keep a proper lookout. | McDonnell admitted to driving too fast and that he failed to keep a proper lookout. |
| The court heard the road was clear and well lit, and McDonnell was sober and there was no evidence that he had taken drugs. | The court heard the road was clear and well lit, and McDonnell was sober and there was no evidence that he had taken drugs. |
| "This lack of explanation must only serve to underscore the sense of grief and of a life needlessly lost that so clearly preoccupies and distresses (her) family," said Judge Miller. | "This lack of explanation must only serve to underscore the sense of grief and of a life needlessly lost that so clearly preoccupies and distresses (her) family," said Judge Miller. |
| He said the defendant's guilty plea deserved credit and concluded "not without some considerable hesitation" that this was a case where the circumstances justified a suspended sentence. |