Much loved and much missed grandfather David Ritiche who was killed by racing death drivers. Family brand their prison sentences hand down today as “disgraceful”
THE legal system is in the dock again after a family branded as “disgraceful” jail sentences to two Derry death drivers who killed a much father and grand-dad while racing on the outskirts of the city over four years ago.
David John Ritchie, aged 69, was killed while driving on the Glenshane Road April 17, 2013 when his struck by a Vauxhall Astra car which had careered head on into his lane.
Thomas Hyndman, 28, from Knockbrack Road in Ardmore, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years.
Stephen Magee, 24, from Ivy Mead in Derry, was jailed for 18 months. Both men were also disqualified from driving.
Magee was the driver of the Astra car that hit a crash barrier, lost control and veered across the road before crashing head on into Mr Ritchie’s car.
In September this year a jury found him not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving but guilty of causing death by careless driving.
Witnesses told police the pair were racing other in two Astra cars over a three mile distance from Drumahoe and Burntollet.
In her victim impact report, Mr Ritchie’s daughter, Andrea, stated: “Walking into the living room is not the same.
“My daddy had a special chair and since his death no one will sit in it.”
Karen Kirkwood, Mr Ritchie’s other daughter, said there should be much tougher sentences for those guilty of dangerous or careless driving.
“I’m just so angry at the sentences passed down today,” she told BBC Radio Foyle.
“Eighteen months for taking a life is a disgrace. They will get out of prison, they will have their own lives to continue on but we won’t get my father back.
“My father did everything for us, he was just a big gentle giant.
“I’ll never forgive them for what they did,” she added.
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