The late Shane Patton with his heartbroken mum Julie. She says new cross border driving law could have saved her son
A HEARTBROKEN mum says her son could still be alive if a cross-border driving ban scheme had come into effect a lot earlier.
Julie Paton’s eldest son Shane was just 18 when he was killed by banned Derry death driver Eamon Lynch.
Lynch had almost 500 previous convictions when he ploughed into Shane close to his home in the Co Donegal village of Drumkeen in 2012.
As Derry Daily reported yesterday, the new legislation means people banned on the other side of the border from where they live will have the disqualification extended to their home jurisdiction.
Shane Patton was 18 when he was killed by a car driven at speed by Eamon Lynch in 2012.
Lynch had already been banned from driving in the North of Ireland until 2023.
The law change gives effect to a road safety agreement signed between the British and Irish governments in 2015.
It covers drivers banned for reckless or dangerous driving, hit-and-runs and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
Julie Patton, Shane’s mother, said the ban was long overdue.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle today, Ms Patton said: “If this ban had been in place, maybe (Lynch) wouldn’t have been on the road that night.
“I hope this ban sends out a message on both sides of the border that it is unacceptable to break the law.
“Shane was our first child and he was my pride and joy,” she added.
Eamonn Lynch jailed for 18 months for killing Shane Patton at speed of 104 mph. PIC: NORTHWEST NEWS PIX
Lynch was jailed for 18 months earlier this year for killing the teenager while drunk and racing at speeds of up to 100 mph.
He had no driving licence or insurance when he crashed into Shane Patton’s car.
Lynch was previously described as having the biggest criminal record in British and Irish judicial history.
Mr Patton, who was the eldest of three children, had just completed his school exams and was to about to train as a mechanic.
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