The late Shane Patton with his heartbroken mum Julie.
THE still heartbroken parents of tragic Shane Patton have demanded tougher jail sentences for people who get behind the wheel and kill others.
Julie and Martin Patton, from Drumkeen, appeared on RTE television show Claire Byrne Live to tell of their heartache at the loss of their 18 year old son.
Shane died in 2012 when Derry thug Eamonn Lynch – who has almost 500 criminal convictions – got behind the wheel after drinking and while he was banned from driving.
He crashed into Shane while traveling at 104 mph before later fleeing to the North before his court case.
When he was extradited back to Donegal, he pleaded guilty to careless driving causing Shane’s death and received just 18 months in jail.
Last night Mr and Mrs Patton revealed how they were only told the night before the recent circuit court case in Letterkenny how the DPP had recommended a charge of careless driving instead of dangerous driving.
Mrs Patton said they were told how witnesses were not available and also how Lynch may have been found not guilty if he went before a jury.
Julie said that if nothing is done then people will think they have a free run to go out and commit further crimes on our roads.
“If nothing is done pretty soon people out there are going to think “we can go out and do what we like in a car.” They are not respecting the roads, not respecting road safety,” she said.
Martin Patton said his family just cannot get over how slack the sentences are when someone has lost a life.
He said that sentences must be tougher if people using our roads are to be safeguarded.
“I would like to see the sentences changed. Everything is too lenient in this country.
“There is too many court cases with the same outcome and even cases that don’t get as far as the courtroom.
“It’s just so slack,” he pleaded.
The couple said that with good behaviour and his guilty plea, their son’s killer will only serve 12 months of his 18 month jail sentence.
Lynch was also banned from driving for six years.
But driving bans mean nothing to Lynch – at the time he killed Shane Patton he was also a banned driver.
Tags: