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A man who lost his son to a drunk-driving accident believes that new, harsher sentencing rules currently being introduced will have a positive impact on road safety. Enda Dolan, aged 18, was in his first term at Queen’s University Belfast when he was fatally hit by a van that mounted the pavement back in 2014. His father, Peter Dolan, has campaigned for over ten years to bring about stronger legal consequences for such offences.
The new Sentencing Bill recently presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly aims to impose tougher penalties for a variety of crimes, most notably increasing the maximum sentence for causing death or serious injury through dangerous or careless driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs—from 14 years to 20 years in prison. Alongside this, the legislation also proposes introducing a discretionary life sentence for repeat offenders and stipulating that driving disqualifications should usually be served after any prison term.
Peter Dolan expressed hope that these changes would influence driver behaviour. In an interview with BBC News NI, he emphasized the importance of judicial discretion, stating, “Along with the legal change, it’s important that the people – the judges – making the decisions in terms of sentencing use the powers and the law available to them.” He reflected on the emotional toll whenever another fatal road accident is reported, saying it “brings [his] family back what they went through.” For him, delivering tougher sentences, combined with educational campaigns targeted at young drivers, is crucial for making the roads safer.
Enda Dolan’s tragic story illustrates the need for such reforms. From County Tyrone, Enda was a gifted artist and musician studying architecture when the fatal incident occurred. The driver responsible, Stewart from Belfast, had consumed 13 alcoholic drinks—including six pints of beer and four Jägerbombs—and was found to have traces of cocaine in his system. The initial prison sentence was later increased to nine years on appeal. The Sentencing Bill also features provisions commonly referred to as “Charlotte’s Law,” which target offenders who refuse to reveal the locations of their victims’ bodies, offering longer jail terms as a consequence. These measures parallel “Helen’s Law” introduced in England, ensuring that parole boards consider such refusals during release decisions.
Justice Minister Naomi Long highlighted the significance of the bill for victims of crime, noting that families affected have played a key role in shaping the legislation. “Victims of crime, and their families and representatives, have been integral to the development of this bill,” she said, adding, “We have listened to the concerns they raised and we have responded.” The legislation also aims to modernize hate crime laws and create new offences with stiffer penalties for assaults against public service workers or those performing public duties
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