Thug freed to kill again

HIT-AND-RUN victim Wayne Leary pictured with his daughter Aimee

THE mother of a hit and run victim from Hollinwood said the thug responsible should not have been freed after previously killing another person.

Kath Leary spoke to the Oldham Chronicle after Colin McDonald was convicted at Manchester Crown Court on Friday of the manslaughter of 21-year-old Dominic Doyle, stabbed to death at a pub in Denton last year.

It was the third killing involving McDonald: he was jailed in 1997 for manslaughter when he followed a stranger from Piccadilly Station and pushed him into the canal in Minshull Street.

Thirteen years later he was involved in the hit and run death of Mrs Leary’s son.

Wayne Leary (38) was crossing Oldham Road, Failsworth in April 2010 to meet his 10-year-old daughter Aimee when he was hit by a car driven by McDonald. Mr Leary died in hospital.

McDonald, who wasn’t insured and had no licence, drove off but later handed himself in to police. He was later jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

By the time the case was heard, McDonald had also been given a 10-year sentence for a stabbing — his second assault conviction.

Mrs Leary said McDonald might not have been free at the time of the hit and run if there hadn’t been alleged delays in the stabbing investigation. McDonald had been released early when he was involved in the killing of Dominic in Denton last year.

Mrs Leary said: “This man should not have been walking the street. Why somebody like him with his record was let out on licence beggars belief. It’s just a shame that somebody else has lost a life, and such a young life. Our sincere condolences go to Dominic Doyle’s parents and family and all his many friends.

“This man and our justice system have taken someone very special away from us.

“He took a loving son to me and Tom, loved brother to Lisa and Jason and more than anything a loving and devoted father to Aimee. He is and always will be sorely missed. “

McDonald will be sentenced later.

McDonald’s long record of violence

1997: McDonald jailed for manslaughter after following a stranger and pushing him into the canal.

2001: convicted of GBH after breaking a man’s jaw with a brick outside a pub. He claimed he was attacked first.

2005: In the dock again for a fight outside a pub.

April 2010: he knocked down and killed Wayne Leary in Oldham Road, Failsworth.

October 2010: McDonald was back in the dock for GBH on a man left with 11 stab wounds and five slash wounds. He was released early from a 10-year sentence and went on to become involved in the violence that claimed Dominic Doyle’s life.