Sir, I was disturbed to read of the two-year prison sentence given to Angela Dublin for causing the deaths of four people by dangerous driving (report, April 11). The car accident that took the lives of three children and one young man is a tragedy, but sending Ms Dublin to prison is wholly inappropriate and will only make a bad situation worse.

Such a lengthy prison term was essentially imposed for two negligent acts: the overloading of Ms Dublin’s car with young boys celebrating her son’s birthday, and her changing lanes “without indicating”, which caused her to lose control of the vehicle. On another, luckier, day these acts of negligence would have amounted to violations of road traffic laws that might have added points to her driving licence. Ms Dublin has been sentenced to prison not because of the nature of her negligent actions, but for the unintended and unforeseen consequences.

More worrying is the court’s recourse to a lengthy prison sentence despite evidence that this serves no useful purpose and will likely cause further suffering and harm. Ms Dublin’s 13-year-old son, Anton, was seriously injured in the accident. Now, in addition to dealing with his own injuries and the sudden deaths of three close friends, he must cope without his mother and with the added stress and stigma her imprisonment will cause.

And what is this sentence expected to achieve? Ms Dublin, a nurse, pleaded guilty to the charges and apparently Mr Justice Crane accepted that she is deeply remorseful. In finding that it was inappropriate to suspend Ms Dublin’s sentence, the court has bent itself to serve vengeance through the unnecessary infliction of suffering, a far more deliberate act than Ms Dublin’s.

CHRIS EADES
The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
King’s College London
London WC2

Sir, What parent hasn’t experienced over-boisterous children on their way to a party leaping around in a car? I can imagine that she lost control trying to calm things down. This doesn’t make it any easier for the relatives, but forgiveness may release them from their own grief and anger. Restorative justice may provide true justice.

SIMON EDWARDS
Chief Executive, Believe
Bristol

Sir, What’s the difference between a grave robber and a speeding driver? Ten years. A grave robber can expect 12 years for taking a lifeless body from a grave; a speeding driver can expect a two-year jail sentence for sending four full-of-life bodies to their graves.

Since when were the dead more precious than the living? When the car became king.

What’s the difference between an animal rights campaigner and a speeding driver? An animal rights campaigner is an activist who doesn’t approve of the laws that could protect animals; a speeding driver is an activist who doesn’t approve of the laws that could protect human beings.

ALLAN RAMSAY
Radcliffe, Lancs

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