DANGEROUS DRIVER JAILED FOR KILLING FIFE COUPLE ON HOLIDAY

A driver, who killed a Fife couple by overtaking on a blind bend, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Martin and Josephine Cousland, of Anstruther, were on holiday when they died after their car was hit on the A85 in Argyll in March 2023.

George Murphy, 55, of Thornliebank, admitted causing the crash after overtaking three vehicles and then trying to overtake a bus.

He and his two sons, who were passengers in his Ford Mondeo, were also injured.

Murphy, who has a history of road traffic offences, admitted causing the deaths and serious injury by dangerous driving.

He has also banned from driving for life.

Judge Lord Arthurson said described the Couslands as a “vigorous and extremely popular couple”.

“They loved life and lived it to the full,” he told Murphy. “Your criminal actions robbed them and their loved ones of a future together.

“Their daughters lost both their parents simultaneously in a moment.

“Putting matters bluntly, on that fateful day, your time was more important to you than the lives and welfare of any of your fellow road users.”

The daughters of Mr Cousland, a retired engineering project manager, and Mrs Cousland, who worked in human resources, said they “mourn the loss of our fun, loving and kind parents” every day.

The couple were travelling to a hotel in Oban to meet their daughters before a holiday on the Isle of Mull.

Mrs Cousland, 69, was driving and her 70-year-old husband was the passenger.

Defence KC Tony Graham said: “There is no attempt to mitigate the standard of driving.

“It was an exceptionally foolhardy approach to that bend.”

The Couslands’ daughters, Penelope and Zoe, said no sentence would bring back their parents.

In a statement, they added: “Due to the legal processes, we have been deprived of anything more than the mere basic facts of what happened until the plea hearing in November.

“We would urge those in power to consider changes to legislation to care better for grieving families and bystanders of road traffic offences.

“Every day we mourn the loss of our fun, loving and kind parents, who have been victims of such a senseless crime.”

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