Speeding driver who killed girls given probation
By Richard Savill
 

THE family of one of two schoolgirls killed by a speeding van driver as they crossed the road arm in arm yesterday criticised a court's decision not to jail him as a "mockery of justice".

 Douglas Ramsay, 19, was put on probation for a year, ordered to undertake 300 hours' community service, and banned from driving for five years. He was driving at 52mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Emma Shaw, 16, and Laura Hainey, 15, with such force that they were flung in the air. The two school friends never regained consciousness and died a week later in hospital.

 Hamilton Sheriff Court was told that the girls had been skipping down a nature trail near their homes in the town minutes before they were hit by the Mercedes delivery van. 

Ramsay, a warehouseman, of Earnock, Hamilton, was found guilty last month of causing their deaths by dangerous driving. Last night, the Crown Office said it was awaiting a report from the fiscal before deciding whether to appeal against the sentence. Road safety campaigners and the victims' families said Ramsay should have been given a deterrent jail term for an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

 But Stephen Crawley, defending, told the court the "terrible tragedy was on the edge of dangerous driving". Ramsay had never been in trouble before and came from a family of "excellent character" that had been deeply affected. His client had gone through deep emotional trauma, and he was engaged to be married.

 He said: "We are not talking about a crazed thug. He was driving with his lights on when the two young girls ran out in front of another car, then ran out in front of him. At that point the world changed for everybody."

 Passing sentence, Sheriff Joyce Powrie, told Ramsay: "This is a case with tragic consequences, but I believe there is an alternative to a custodial sentence in your case."

 But Janice Shaw, 44, mother of Emma, who was led sobbing from the court, said Ramsay had "totally got away" with his crime: "This makes a mockery of justice and everything the police are trying to do to stop people speeding and driving dangerously. I have lost my daughter and Ramsay has lost 300 hours of his social life. There has to be a deterrent and this is not one."

 She was backed by Phil Gallie, justice spokesman for the Scottish Tories, who said: "Where two young girls have been killed, this sentence is hardly appropriate. There must be deterrent sentences in cases like this. The bare facts suggest a custodial sentence would have been more appropriate."

 Michael McDonald, road safety officer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents, said he wanted sentences to have a wider effect on public safety. "We wonder if this sentence will actually do that."

 The limit on a sheriff court sentence is three years, but Ramsay could have been referred to the High Court for a longer sentence. Isobel Bridie, chairman of the Scottish Campaign Against Irresponsible Drivers, said: "Publicity campaigns don't matter a jot if sheriffs won't impose the prison sentences available."