Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Keeper In Prison Football Row



Jailed goalkeeper Luke McCormick has caused a storm after being signed up to play for his prison football team.


The 25-year-old, who killed two young boys in a crash while drunk behind the wheel, may play his first game for Channings Wood Prison as early as this weekend.
It came after prison team officials sent a registration form to the South Devon League requesting McCormick be allowed to play for their Division Two side.
The league sought advice from the Football Association in London, who gave the green light.
But some SDL officials are unhappy at the decision, and say the former Plymouth Argyle star should be punished for his crimes rather than spend time kicking a football around.
League secretary Lisa Buley told Sky News Online: "I think it's poor taste him getting permission to play, but our hands have been tied by the FA.


"Personally, as a mother-of-two, I don't think he should be allowed to because those two little boys he killed will not play football again, but we can't bring our personal views into it."
The final say now rests with the prison's governor Jeannine Hendrick, who is understood to be backtracking on McCormick's league registration.
The prison refused to discuss the matter when contacted by Sky. A spokeswoman would only say: "We do not comment on individual prisoners."
Experts said McCormick was "at best semi-conscious" when his speeding Range Rover crashed into a people carrier on the M6, killing Arron Peak, 10, and his brother Ben, eight.
The boys' parents Phil and Amanda Peak - who have called for mandatory life sentences for drink-drive killers - have been unavailable for comment.
But they have expressed anger that McCormick will be eligible for parole after just three and a half years.

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