A question that is doing the rounds on various boards is the one about goalkeeper Luke McCormick signing for Swindon Town after his release from prison. Links to two of these threads are http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/147301-Luke-McCormick-to-Join-Swindon (Swindon board) and http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/147302-Luke-McCormick-to-Join-Swindon (Plymouth board - his previous club) or simply air your views in a comment here if you prefer What sort of reception do you expect him to get (if any) if he plays for Swindon at Fratton Park in the coming season?
Personally I don't think abuse [vile or otherwise] would be appropriate. The man did wrong and got sent to jail. Nothing he can say or do, no length of prison sentence will bring those children back to life. Some posters on other boards have come out with things like 'he should never be allowed to play football again'. So what are these people suggesting? If he was a bank clerk would they be of the opinion he shouldn't ever be allowed to work in a bank again? Whatever any-one might think of the length of the sentence and the fact that, under the current status quo, prisoners are released on parole after about half their sentence if they have 'kept their nose clean'. Whether or not you agree with this, the fact is thgat, as far as the law is concerned he has 'paid his debt to society' and it is not for us to harrass or harrang the man for wanting to find gainful employment on release; some-thing that convicted criminals will always find difficult. At the end of the day I would imagine that (assuming he has a human conscience) he is serving a life sentence of guilt for his actions and I'm sure he would do any-thing to be able to turn back the clock and not get behind the wheel. It is not our place to judge.
I'd stick to collecting Freeman's catalogue pictures, if I were you. That's not even going to give Michael McIntyre a run for his money.
The responses seem to be more about the justice system really - McCormack has paid his debt to society but has justice been seen to be done? He committed a crime which a family has to live with forever whereas he is able to pick up his life and carry on. Should he be able to carry on as before, earning a high wage in a role which youngsters can hero worship him? Difficult call, it's a very emotive subject.
Very well said Dev. Everything you say is true. Have we not all done something very stupid in our lives that could have resulted in a disaster? Anyone not driven their car following one too many? There but for the grace of God go many of us
Totally agree with you 3rd eye, it is a difficult call. Most people agree that the justice system falls down in the Prison time given for such a case. I know people who know McCormack and also some prison officers from where he was sentenced and by all accounts he is a very nice man and is mortified by what he has done and it will live with him forever but to me the Simple facts are, Longer prison sentence and FULL sentence served. Keeping your nose clean should not come into it Dev. Once the full prison sentence is completed then the person should be allowed to rebuild there life and even if they are in the public eye, like McCormick, that shouldnt mater. The man will be fortuante to have a chance to encourage peolpe not to make the same mistake as he did.
I agree. I only mentioned it as some-thing that seems to be the case, not what I think should be the case
