Has just pleaded guilty to driving drunk resulting in the death of his best friend.
Sentencing to take place later next month.
In a Radio Call-in Show yesterday – the vast majority of callers were demanding serious jail time for this young (24) offender.
Some even suggesting that a life sentence (25 years) would be appropriate.
Most seemed to think that at least 5 years would suffice.
I was shocked.
Where is their humanity?
The Young Tobin did a stupid thing – most of us did stupid things when younger – albeit in Tobin’s case it cost the life of another young person.
But how is imprisonment going to benefit the situation?
All it will do is probably break this individual or harden him in the prison school of hard knocks.
So Society pays for his care for say 5 years and he comes out a true bad guy.
Some result.
Tobin himself took full responsibility for his actions from the moment the police came on the scene – and then he pled guilty at the earliest possible opportunity despite his lawyer’s advice not too.
In earlier Blogs I have argued that jail be used only for those who are violent.
Other sanctions need be found for those who are not so classed.
In the Tobin case – suspension of his licence and / or prohibition from drinking and/or community service and/or house arrest….
The list goes on and on.
What he did was wrong – but he most certainly did not plan to kill his closest and best friend.
He will have to live with that the rest of his life and, sadly, that is the best punishment possible.
As I see it…
‘K.D. Galagher’
