destroyed families... just plain stupid
May 18, 2006
The following story from the Boston Herald needs to be told again and again. Two stupid choices by a father one October day in 2004 destroyed one family by taking away their young son, and created problems for his own family. Choice #1 is drinking to excess and choice #2 is getting behind the wheel of his car. I am most concerned about the damage done to the innocent family. However, I hope Mr. Coughlin not only pains for the family he destroyed, but also experiences pain for what he will put his family through.
Until the judicial system steps up and deals with these cases as they should be - murder - I am afraid that more senseless acts like this will continue to happen. He may not have intended to kill someone, however he did intend to drink and drive. Therefore, when he drove his car into the other, it is just the logical conclusion.
Family calls drunk driver time ‘a joke’
By Jessica Fargen (Boston Herald) May 18, 2006
The drunken driver who boozed all afternoon and then killed a spirited little boy will be out of jail by autumn 2007, an unjust and mostly empty sentence, the shattered family of Nicholas Drolet said.
“Now he’s off in 18 months to live his life. It’s like a blink of the eye!”said David Drolet, the father of 4-year-old Nicholas, who was killed in the 2004 crash. “Eighteen months for killing my son. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Derek Coughlin, 35, of Burlington, was sentenced yesterday to 2 ½ years in jail. He’ll serve 18 months, followed by 10 years’ probation during which he can’t drink alcohol and must be involved in a drunken driving awareness program. He’ll lose his license for 15 years.
For Nicholas’ family, the sentence was “a joke.”
“Rot in hell,” Nicholas’ uncle, Paul Drolet, told Coughlin inside Salem Superior Court as the well-dressed, bespectacled convict was led away in handcuffs and shackles. A prosecutor had recommended five to seven years in state prison.
Judge Peter Agnes said he relied on sentencing guidelines, watched a home video of Nicholas and took into account the impact of Coughlin’s actions, his remorse and lack of criminal record.
Coughlin and a buddy spent the afternoon of Oct. 7, 2004, boozing inside a Haverhill 99 Restaurant. Two hours later, Coughlin was on Interstate 495 in Andover talking on his cell phone when his SUV crossed two lanes and plowed into Dawna Blood’s car. Blood and her son, Nicholas, were stopped in the breakdown lane.
Agnes said Coughlin will suffer a “punishment far greater than any I can impose from the ever-present awareness” that he killed a young boy the same age as his son.
Coughlin’s 5-year-old, Joshua, has a disorder called Kawasaki disease. His wife, Lisa Coughlin, in a letter, called her husband of 10 years a devoted dad who is “so aware of the gift of life.” Coughlin owns a screen-print shop, the family’s sole source of income.
In heartfelt letters to the court, Coughlin’s friends and family vouched for his character and deep remorse. As his psycholgist put it in a March 8 letter: “In short, most of this year, Derek has been in torment.”
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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