Drinking driver’s jail term halved

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 26

Drinking driver’s jail term halved

PA Hamilton A drinking driver who caused “dreadful injuries” has had his two-year jail term halved. Donald Neil Reilly, aged 24, of Hamilton, appealed to the High Court at Hamilton against the two-year jail term imposed in the Hamilton District Court after he was convicted of causing injury while driving under the influence of alcohol. Mr Justice Ellis reduced the sentence to one year’s jail but a 10-year driving disqualification still stands. Reilly was driving near Hamilton about 8.20 p.m. on December 7 when he crossed the centre line and collided head-on with an oncoming motor-cyclist who was carrying a pillion passenger, his Honour said in his reserved decision. “As a result of the acci-

dent the motor cyclist had his right arm severed from his body above the elbow. Subsequent treatment involved the amputation of his right leg as well. He also suffered brain damage. “The pillion passenger had his right leg severed below the knee and it has now had to be amputated above the knee. “He has lost all function of his right arm and it is likely that that will have to be amputated as well. He also suffered broken ribs,” his Honour said. The appellant lost the sight of one eye and much of the sight of the other eye as a result of his injury, he said. Reilly had been drinking and was found to have an excess blood-alcohol level of 186 milligrams. “While leading an otherwise blameless life he had, however, been

previously convicted in 1979 for dangerous driving and in 1981 for driving with excess breathalcohol concentration,” said his Honour. “The dreadful injuries sustained by the three people in this case are in my view little different in terms of seriousness from the cases where the death of an innocent third party was the result of the criticised driving.” The appellant had a problem with alcohol and driving of some years standing and he had taken positive steps to deal with his problem, his Honour said. He could not be unmindful of the dreadful injuries Reilly had sustained and the need to protect the public had been met by what amounted to permanent cancellation of his driving licence.