Luke McCormick

[Bigal]

Former Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick is set to join Swindon on trial when he is released from prison in June.

 

The controversial move comes almost four years after McCormick caused the deaths of brothers Arron and Ben Peak, aged 10 and eight respectively, while driving with excess alcohol in his system in a crash on the M6 in Staffordshire.

 

The boys' father Phil suffered a broken back and neck in the crash.

 

The former Pilgrims shot-stopper was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison in October 2008 after he admitted to the charge, but is set to be released after serving just half of that.

 

Swindon's courting of the player has left the mother of the victims distraught.

 

Amanda Peak told the money grabbing rag "Swindon might be a family club, but now they’re hiring a man who has torn my family apart.

 

“One of McCormick’s main points in his plea was that he will never play football again - that was obviously completely wrong.

 

“My sons loved playing football and played every day. My husband can’t even kick a ball now either - he struggles to walk."

 

McCormick has already been put through his paces, having trained with Swindon since January while on day-release. He will join Paolo Di Canio's squad on their pre-season tour of Italy.

 

Swindon chairman Jeremy Wray told BBC Wiltshire: "Our sympathy is with the family of the victims - that will never change. There's been a complete tragedy and lives have been destroyed.

 

"This guy has done his time in prison. He wants to come back and give something back to society. The best way we can do that is to rehabilitate, and that's the role Swindon can play. It's a benefit we've thought about in the long-term. It's going to be a big debate and I'm not frightened of it."

 

However, Mrs Peak, 34, is furious that McCormick has been allowed to spend his day-release time at the football club and insists that McCormick should not be allowed to play football again.

 

"McCormick’s been playing since January. He was meant to be on day-release doing things to put good back into the community to repay for what he has taken from us. But he is off playing football.

 

“It is nice to know that his life can continue where it left off and ours is stuck in a time warp.

 

“I have no faith in the justice system. I lost any I had when he got the sentence he did and now it is just a joke. I think Swindon should really look at the person behind the football. It doesn’t matter if he’s a good player or not. He should never be allowed to play football again.”

 

 

what do you think? I feel that she has a point that he shouldn't be using his day releases from prison to have a trial at Swindon, I think thats awful.

 

There is nothing to stop someone restarting their career whatever it is, once the sentence has been served, however, having trials is something else

Edited May 24, 2012 by Bigal

[cymrococh]

what do you think? I feel that she has a point that he shouldn't be using his day releases from prison to have a trial at Swindon, I think thats awful.

 

There is nothing to stop someone restarting their career whatever it is, once the sentence has been served, however, having trials is something else

Not sure Al, using day release to try and get gainful employment upon release is surely a good use of it.

 

If you're a footballer, then that includes going on trial. The mother portrays it as 'going off playing football', which trivialises it somewhat. If he was a computer game developer using day release to catch up on new technologies, it would be easy to say he was 'messing about on computers'.

 

It's horrible though in cases like this where a family has been ripped apart. I wouldn't want to go through life with his conscience.

Edited May 24, 2012 by cymrococh

[Bigal]

Not sure Al, using day release to try and get gainful employment upon release is surely a good use of it.

 

If you're a footballer, then that includes going on trial.

 

It's horrible though in cases like this where a family has been ripped apart. I wouldn't want to go through life with his conscience.

 

I dunno, being a footballer is a specialist employment and maybe something he didnt need a trial for.

 

For example, Lee Hughes didnt have trials with Oldham, he agreed the contract when he was due to be released about 5 or 6 weeks beforehand.

[johngibo YPC]

I'm ok with someone going back to work after they have been in prison, which is essentially what this is

[Bigal]

I'm ok with someone going back to work after they have been in prison, which is essentially what this is

 

Me too, unsure the trials at swindon were necessary thats all

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

After 4 years away from the game & conditioning etc you may permanently lose that edge though.

 

And I don't see what part of the plea "never to play footy again" has. It wasn't footy that caused him to drink & drive.

 

It's a horrible case, but what are we supposed to do? Deny him gainful employment in the one area he excels (relatively)?

[Ste M]

A heartbreaking story (I remember the coverage of the trial vividly), but he's served his time and deserves to be allowed to work. No-one should be denied a job. It's just a shame that his is high-profile - if he was a bricky, I'd doubt she'd have made a comment like that.

 

Hopefully he sees those two kids in his dreams every night, and it plays on his mind that he's denied a family any kind of happiness and moments like grandchildren, weddings etc - that should be a enough punishment for him.

[Nerik]

Yep him playing football again is not related to his crime. Can understand the feelings of the family after what they've been though, but he is resuming a career.

[Earl Hafler]

 

 

 

what do you think? I feel that she has a point that he shouldn't be using his day releases from prison to have a trial at Swindon, I think thats awful.

 

There is nothing to stop someone restarting their career whatever it is, once the sentence has been served, however, having trials is something else

 

Why ? A day release is exactly that.

[growler]

The initial sentence was ridiculously light. Typical justice system in england. No wonder there is no fear of breaking a law.

 

From terry walking away with a slap on his wrist through to murderers and rapists getting out after a years, it's completely crazy.

 

Cops, prosecution and support must wonder why they bother catching criminals.

[muleskinner]

After 4 years away from the game & conditioning etc you may permanently lose that edge though.

 

And I don't see what part of the plea "never to play footy again" has. It wasn't footy that caused him to drink & drive.

 

It's a horrible case, but what are we supposed to do? Deny him gainful employment in the one area he excels (relatively)?

We need to know what Gordon Taylor thinks should happen. Is unlawful killing a sackable offence?

[Falconhoof]

The initial sentence was ridiculously light. Typical justice system in england. No wonder there is no fear of breaking a law.

 

From terry walking away with a slap on his wrist through to murderers and rapists getting out after a years, it's completely crazy.

 

Cops, prosecution and support must wonder why they bother catching criminals.

 

It should be like in America where people get longer sentences, then we'd have less crime like they do.

[smithdown]

We need to know what Gordon Taylor thinks should happen. Is unlawful killing a sackable offence?

 

 

Didn't kill a professional footballer though did he so it'd be all about his right to earn a living as a footballer rather than in a call centre or somewhere else more suited to asians and d1ckheads.

[meepins]

This piece of sh*t doesn't deserve to live nevermind this boll*x about getting to play football again. He kills two little boys with his disgusting selfishness and gets a seven year sentence meanwhile some dope gets sent to prison for saying something offensive on twitter a few months back. It ENRAGES me.

I have two nieces and it's one of my big fears that something like that could happen to them because there's no shortage of these drink drivers around. The numbers of convicted drink drivers are easily in the tens of thousands every year in Ireland. In 2010 it was 20,000 +.

I put myself in that family's position where this c*nt has just killed their children and all I can think is he has to be executed. It's beyond me how this guy can ever be walking free.

 

He wants to come back and give something back to society

Best thing he could do is put a bullet in his head.

[Hassony]

This piece of sh*t doesn't deserve to live nevermind this boll*x about getting to play football again. He kills two little boys with his disgusting selfishness and gets a seven year sentence meanwhile some dope gets sent to prison for saying something offensive on twitter a few months back. It ENRAGES me.

I have two nieces and it's one of my big fears that something like that could happen to them because there's no shortage of these drink drivers around. The numbers of convicted drink drivers are easily in the tens of thousands every year in Ireland. In 2010 it was 20,000 +.

I put myself in that family's position where this c*nt has just killed their children and all I can think is he has to be executed. It's beyond me how this guy can ever be walking free.

 

 

Best thing he could do is put a bullet in his head.

 

wow

 

 

you are wrong on so many levels

 

your last comment is scandalous

[growler]

It should be like in America where people get longer sentences, then we'd have less crime like they do.

 

Well your idea of letting him off with an apology is a great idea. Why not offer him and special pass so he can drink and drive whenever he wants because he won't do it again.

 

What's that you say? Someone died? Doesn't matter does it? They're dead now who cares about them? This guy is alive and he has his rights to do whatever he wants. It's a free country.

[Swipe]

This piece of sh*t doesn't deserve to live nevermind this boll*x about getting to play football again. He kills two little boys with his disgusting selfishness and gets a seven year sentence meanwhile some dope gets sent to prison for saying something offensive on twitter a few months back. It ENRAGES me.

I have two nieces and it's one of my big fears that something like that could happen to them because there's no shortage of these drink drivers around. The numbers of convicted drink drivers are easily in the tens of thousands every year in Ireland. In 2010 it was 20,000 +.

I put myself in that family's position where this c*nt has just killed their children and all I can think is he has to be executed. It's beyond me how this guy can ever be walking free.

 

 

Best thing he could do is put a bullet in his head.

 

Wow.

[Gerry]

Well your idea of letting him off with an apology is a great idea. Why not offer him and special pass so he can drink and drive whenever he wants because he won't do it again.

 

What's that you say? Someone died? Doesn't matter does it? They're dead now who cares about them? This guy is alive and he has his rights to do whatever he wants. It's a free country.

 

* Searches for Tony LM saying any of that and fails. *

 

Wow.

 

Indeed.

[Rich Gobey]

Well your idea of letting him off with an apology is a great idea. Why not offer him and special pass so he can drink and drive whenever he wants because he won't do it again.

 

What's that you say? Someone died? Doesn't matter does it? They're dead now who cares about them? This guy is alive and he has his rights to do whatever he wants. It's a free country.

 

He hasn't been "let off", has he?

[D.Boon]

Certainly is a contentious issue.

[psl]

This thread is a bit scary. Anyone can be on a jury!

Edited May 27, 2012 by psl

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Criminals get sentences on Day 1 that sometimes seem appropriate. Day 1 is the time of most media coverage.

 

This criminal only served 50% of that sentence. Why is this ?

 

Society has generally decided that the death penalty isnt acceptable so we accept that when people serve their time they should be permitted to return to society to resume their lives.

 

However, I can understand people's anger at times because the sentence isnt what it should be - especially when its cut in half and that feels like window dressing.

 

Real Day 1: You are sentenced to 7 years and 4 months. Society perhaps accepts this - though only perhaps*.

 

Alternative Day 1: You are sentenced to 3.5yrs. No chance society accepts a drunk driver killing 2 kids.

 

Why does the justice seem to work like this, why does it appear to pacify the victims on Day 1 but ultimately favour the offender ?

 

 

*If an average person lives until 78 and you take off their first 18 years to judge their adult-life then 7.3yrs as a % of their adult life span is 12%