Two men who punched and killed an off-duty policeman are being allowed home visits just two years into their prison sentences.
Neil Doyle, 36, died after being floored by a ‘piledriver’ blow while on a Christmas night out with colleagues in Liverpool city centre.
Andrew Taylor and Timmy Donovan were sentenced to seven years and six
Neither Donovan, 30 – a sports-event manager from Childwall – nor Taylor, 29, of Huyton, admitted throwing the fatal punch, which ruptured Doyle’s vertebral artery and led to bleeding on the brain.
Thugs Andrew Taylor (left) and Timmy Donovan (right were sentenced to seven and six years respectively for the manslaughter of PC Doyle in Liverpool City Centre in December 2014
Mr Doyle’s widow, Sarah, says the Probation Service has sent her a letter informing her of changes to Donovan and Taylor’s prison arrangements.
Taylor is about to begin escorted visits from jail and Donovan is currently having unescorted visits.
Unescorted home leave is the final stage before total jail release.
Today Mrs Doyle from Walton spoke of her anger at hearing her husband’s killers were already receiving privileges.
She said: ‘This coming December will be just three years since Neil was attacked.
‘Donovan is currently on unescorted home visits, and Taylor is just about to start escorted visits – it’s not even three years it happened, and they’re already on their way out.
PC Neil Doyle, a 36-year-old beat bobby, died after he was struck by the fatal punch in the early hours of December 19, 2014
Mrs Doyle from Walton, pictured right being consoled by one of her husband’s colleagues outside Liverpool Crown Court after the case, spoke of her anger at hearing her husband’s killers were already receiving privileges
‘I’m living more of a sentence than they are.’
She added: ‘Things are still really, really tough.
‘Life has completely changed, I’m sill undergoing trauma counselling.
‘I still haven’t returned to work full time, it’s completely changed my life and turned everything on its head.’
Today, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that ‘all offenders must meet strict criteria and pass a full risk assessment before being considered for release on temporary licence.
They said that ‘release on temporary licence is considered for offenders towards the end of their sentence, taking into account their individual resettlement needs. It helps build and maintain family ties, which is proven to stop reoffending.
‘Those who fail to comply with the conditions of a release on temporary licence can be returned to closed prisons where they may have to serve additional time.
‘Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary.’