TorquayFans.com | Torquay United Fans Forum

Listen, there is no right or wrong about what people think about McCormick. I'm just saying that if he signed for Torquay then my moral compass is such that there is no way i could ever go and watch a team with him in it.

AustrianAndyGull wrote:He should have thought about that before killing someone elses children. I'd rather him claim off the state if i'm honest, then he'd have a sh*t life like the people who were close to the kids he wiped out are having and he would be reminded every day of his life what he has done, just like those close to the children he wiped out. If i was haunted by what i done then i'd certainly be throwing myself into helping raise awareness of dangerous driving and devote my life to that if i genuinely wanted salvation. I wouldn't be going back to being a fairly high profile footballer and mixing in the same circles. Ok so he probably won't do it again but that's because he won't want to spend any more time inside rather than the remorse for the lives he has destroyed. So he gives money to charity, anyone can give money if they've got enough of it. He should be giving his time to help kids and to help out at charities and not just sending them a faceless cheque.

It's not just a faceless cheque: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22471577

He is reminded every day of what he has done I would imagine....

Also, how many of those claim off the state have a "s**t" life? Most over here have more holidays a year than me, more cars than me, have Sky TV, flat screen TV's, the latest clothing, smoke, drink and have about three million kids that are also supported by the state. Most of them choose not to work, meaning that we have to work more to get all the above, and allow them to get the above too.

I don't condone what he has done, but I do allow him the right to now be allowed to get on with his life (if he can) - he did the crime, he paid the price and now he is back in society. He has just as much right to live his life again now as you or I.

Fair enough Scott, i don't want to get into an argument about it. You are right in principle in what you say about ex-criminals being allowed to get on with their lives but in this instance i have reservations that's all.

Andy have you ever been out on the lash for the night?

I have made this point before, and this whole arguement has been had before, but I, when young and stupid, and most people I know at some stage have driven over the limit, and have driven over the speed limit. My/their crime is equal to McCormicks. I got lucky and didnt hurt anybody.

He is no worse than anyone else who has ever broken either of those laws, his actions just had worse consequences.

Kernowgull wrote:I have made this point before, and this whole arguement has been had before, but I, when young and stupid, and most people I know at some stage have driven over the limit, and have driven over the speed limit. My/their crime is equal to McCormicks. I got lucky and didnt hurt anybody.

He is no worse than anyone else who has ever broken either of those laws, his actions just had worse consequences.

Agree with that of course, most people have driven over the limit at some time in their lives, most have broken the speed limit and most don't have accidents (although some do, directly as a result of their drinking and/or speeding). To that extent he was unlucky, although it was all attributable to his own stupid actions. And of course, people who have served their time should be rehabilitated and be able to earn their living.

It must, however, be awful for the bereaved family to see him come out and return to a "normal" life, I can't imagine how they feel. It must be awful for him too, living with what he has done.

The reason that I would not want him at Torquay is because of the reaction of the fans (mainly the opposition fans). The fact that he was convicted and the offence would be raked up repeatedly, casting a shadow over every game (Oxford fans, calling out "murderer" for example, not fair and not right but entirely predictable). The fans' reactions would also be likely to affect his game.

Nobody wins in any of this, opinions are highly divided and it just causes argument and pain.

Kernowgull wrote:I have made this point before, and this whole arguement has been had before, but I, when young and stupid, and most people I know at some stage have driven over the limit, and have driven over the speed limit. My/their crime is equal to McCormicks. I got lucky and didnt hurt anybody.

He is no worse than anyone else who has ever broken either of those laws, his actions just had worse consequences.

This is my point. How many of us have been out at night had a few and got up and driven to work the next morning? 99.9% we make it to work, we feel ok but a little tired. If any of us had a crash that morning and killed someone we would be in the same boat as McCormick.

We have just got lucky.................SO FAR!

And that is my point. To have this much hatred towards McCormick, you must a} ensure you yourself are squeaky clean in this regards and b) have the same hatred for every individual who has ever broken a driving law, regardless of end consequences.

Ok so you have a few pints and then drive to work in the morning AT 90MPH? Surely if you're feeling sh*tty and fear you might get breathalysed on your morning drive then you'd take it steady just to avoid getting pulled up by the police for speeding thus resulting in a breath test for which you'd be over the limit.

90 MILES PER HOUR

I'll say it again if nobody heard - - NINETY MILES PER HOUR

who doesnt drive a bit quicker on the motorway? and rightly or wrongly I believe the reason for him driving at all and at that speed was due to an emergency at home so he was trying to get back as quick as possible. The guy made a massive error in judgement but one that thousands of people make every day he unfortunately for everyone involved caused great damage for that mistake where thousands of others dont. He had no intention of killing or harming anyone

Anymore excuses? What was the emergency? His kids (if he has any) have been knocked over? Well he'll know what it f*cking feels like then won't he?

So far we've had, 'it's ok to go out the night before and get mullered then drive in the morning' then we have 'it's ok to speed at 90mph whilst over the limit and tired if you have an emergency to attend to' - what next - it's ok to knock off a couple of kids and resume a football career so long as you serve your sentence, show remorse and give up some money? Seems like it.

AustrianAndyGull wrote:Anymore excuses? What was the emergency? His kids (if he has any) have been knocked over? Well he'll know what it f*cking feels like then won't he?

Andy. None of us are making excuses for it. There is no need to. It's just looking at it from a level headed point of view. I dare say If I drove right now (8.48am here) and I had a accident and killed 2 kids I would be going to jail for being over the limit.

If I did that, does that make me a bad person?

AustrianAndyGull wrote:So far we've had, 'it's ok to go out the night before and get mullered then drive in the morning' then we have 'it's ok to speed at 90mph whilst over the limit and tired if you have an emergency to attend to' - what next - it's ok to knock off a couple of kids and resume a football career so long as you serve your sentence, show remorse and give up some money? Seems like it.

I never said it's ok. It's just that most have us have done it.

Perhaps you'd rather live in a society where they would have cut off his hands instead of trying to ensure a remorseful young man can integrate back into society?