Ramsey tells of personal loss at hands of drink driver

The Waterside-based representative told the house of his own acute personal experience of the problem of drink driving when two close relatives were tragically killed by a driver speeding at over 90 miles per hours whilst over the limit.

He told MLAs how two children in the car were hospitalised in the incident and that they were still coming to terms with the tragedy.

Mr Ramsey was speaking in support of a motion that the Assembly recognises December as the month which traditionally sees the highest number of road deaths; acknowledges the efforts of the PSNI; endorses the anti-drink driving message; and urges all drivers to have due regard for the law and to drive responsibly.

He said: "I know from personal experience the turmoil brought about by deaths on the road caused by a drunk driver.

In 1995, a younger brother of mine and his wife were killed by a drunk driver just outside Derry, in Donegal.

"They were coming home from a caravan site near Culdaff when, near Derry, they were taken out by someone in a Volvo car who was well over the alcohol limit.

"I think that he was two or three times over the alcohol limit and was driving in excess of 90 mph.

"They had two children in the car, Laura and Joanne, who were both hospitalised; Joanne was in intensive care for months after the crash.

"They are still coming round. One can imagine the turmoil and trauma that comes to someone's door when they get a knock from the police.

"I can tell you, Mr Deputy Speaker, that both the Ramsey family and the McCann family were devastated.

"Not only that, but we were at the caravan site and had to visit the scene after getting home and being told of the awfulness of the tragedy."

He said the scourge of drink and drugs driving needed to be addressed head on and that the arrogant attiude of "taking one for the road" should result in the strongest condemnation and that the person responsible for the death of his brother and sister-in-law served little time in prison.

"The evidence is very clear that people are still doing that. The driver, who was found guilty in a court in Letterkenny for that offence, had all the best references in the world for his good character, and he literally served several weeks in prison," he commented.