Families of two pilots killed by a truck driver have described the government's actions as "appalling" after they were left waiting for months fearing the driver's sentence could be reduced to alleviate prison overcrowding. Relatives of Ryanair pilots Matthew Greenhalgh and Jamie Fernandes expressed anger that the policy to exclude killers from early release was only changed following a public outcry, and that they learned of the potential sentence recalculation through media reports.
Both families received letters in June informing them that Anthony Burns, 63, might have his sentence "recalculated" under government moves to free up prison cells. This notification came just five months after Burns was jailed for 10 years for causing death by dangerous driving. The Prime Minister's subsequent reversal to exempt individuals convicted of manslaughter and death by dangerous driving from early release followed national outrage, particularly after reports that the killers of PC Andrew Harper, who died after being dragged behind a getaway vehicle, could have been freed.
Hannah Greenhalgh, whose husband Matthew Greenhalgh was killed, stated that being informed of Burns' potential early release in June and again earlier this month was "devastating" and reopened wounds. "Victims shouldn’t have to read through headlines to be informed about changes that impact them," she said, adding that victims like herself have a "lifelong sentence of grief" and their voices should be heard from the outset.
Amanda Lindsay, mother of Jamie Fernandes, called the treatment of bereaved families "appalling" and highlighted the "needless uncertainty" they endured. She criticized the government's initial stance that there were no alternatives to prevent prison overcrowding, only for a solution to be found after public pressure. "It is lazy governance," Lindsay stated. "Only after a national outcry did they manage to find alternative solutions."
Captain Greenhalgh, 28, and First Officer Fernandes, 24, were killed when Burns, driving a 44-tonne lorry, collided with their taxi at 50 mph in queuing traffic. The taxi was at the rear of the queue. The families had already considered the original 10-year sentence lenient, given Burns' likely release after serving half his term. Mrs. Greenhalgh expressed feeling "failed by a system that I put trust in at the most traumatic and vulnerable time of my life."
Burns, who had 28 previous convictions, was driving at 56 mph in rain, ignoring a 40 mph advisory speed limit. He failed to react for 19 seconds to the traffic jam ahead. He pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to the taxi driver, Rashid Mehmood. Mehmood suffered broken ribs and a broken shoulder and has not driven a taxi since the incident.
Concerns raised by the families extend to various aspects of the justice system. They highlighted that Burns was allowed to have bail conditions removed, enabling him to retrieve his passport and continue driving until his conviction. They also expressed anger over the automatic one-third discount for guilty pleas, which reduced Burns' potential 15-year sentence to 10 years, even in cases with overwhelming evidence. The families also questioned why a defense psychiatric report claiming Burns had no memory of the collision went unchallenged by the prosecution and why prosecutors cannot contest points made by the defense.
Amanda Lindsay described the situation as a "litany of injustices" and stated, "The justice system in this country works for the benefit of the criminal." She noted that Jamie, her only child, was "simply a gift and an inspiration." The families pointed to Burns' history of 28 previous convictions, including joyriding, arson, and common assault, as evidence of his untrustworthiness.
In response to the outcry, the Ministry of Justice announced that the Prime Minister had requested a plan by early September to revise the early release scheme to "keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars." The ministry also stated it "inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse."
Amidst their grief, the families have also engaged in efforts to honor the pilots and support others. Ryanair has named an award after Matt and Jamie for the best pilot cadet. A memorial plaque has been unveiled near the crash site, and a legacy fund established by their colleagues used donations to purchase an apartment for flight training cadets. Hannah Greenhalgh is also working on a campaign to improve support for families of victims of dangerous driving.```jsonjsoncomply with your request. Here is the JSON output: {