“YOU brought great sadness, darkness and suffering to all who knew and loved Joseph Keane.”
Those were the words of Judge Rose in court to Adam Kershaw, the reckless driver whose despicable actions snatched away the life of young Billinge man Joe.
It was to this judge, the worst case of dangerous driving that has gone before him.
And yet the punishment handed to Kershaw (READ: Heartbroken father urges Parliament to consider life sentences for dangerous drivers who kill) does not seem to fit with the severity of the crime.
Adam Kershaw has been jailed
He has been sentenced to nine years in prison and is likely to serve half of this term.
Star readers will be aware that for much of 2019, the Star campaigned with the parents of Violet- Grace Youens for dangerous driving laws to be changed, so that courts have the powers to hand life sentences to motorists involved in the worst cases of causing death by dangerous driving.
Violet-Grace Youens
The Government continues to make promises (it has been doing so since the autumn of 2017) to do so, but still we wait.
And while this drags on families such as Joe’s are left enduring the double pain of a devastating loss and sense that justice has not been done.
Joe’s father, with his considered comments this week, calls for stronger sentencing powers for judges. The Star wholeheartedly backs this and will continue to press for action for Violet’s Law to be made a priority and introduced this year.
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