A speeding driver who killed a couple on the way to a retirement party in a horror head-on smash has been jailed for seven and a half years.
George Murphy caused the crash after overtaking three vehicles and then trying to get past a bus on the A85, in Argyll, on March 31, 2023.
Martin and Josephine Cousland, of Anstruther, Fife, did not survive the collision after their Audi Q2 was struck.
The couple were on their way to a holiday in the Isle of Mull with their two daughters, who were waiting for them in a hotel.
Murphy’s two sons – who were passengers in his Ford Mondeo – were also badly hurt.
The 55-year-old who already had a history of road traffic offences was yesterday sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of causing the deaths and serious injury by dangerous driving.
Lord Arthurson said Murphy had been ‘driving at excessive speeds’ and ‘ignored a warning sign for a blind summit’ ahead of the collision. He described Murphy’s manoeuvre as ‘highly dangerous’.
George Murphy pled guilty to death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow
He added: ‘It is clear that you gave the Couslands absolutely no chance.
‘The Couslands were a vigorous and extremely popular couple – the parents to two loving daughters and friends to many.
‘They loved life and lived it to the full. 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.’
Murphy, of Thornliebank, Renfrewshire, was also banned from the road for life.
The crash happened on the A85 Oban to Perth trunk road at Glen Lochy, around six miles from the village on Tyndrum.
Mrs Cousland, 69, had been driving the couple’s Audi that day with her 70 year-old husband the passenger.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC explained: ‘As she emerged out of a dip in the road, her vehicle collided head-on with the Ford Mondeo.
‘Murphy had been travelling east on the westbound carriageway after performing a multi-vehicle overtake when approaching the brow of the hill.’
He had tried to get round the coach despite having ‘insufficient visibility of oncoming traffic’ due to the approaching blind summit and bend.
Husband and wife Martin and Jo, Cousland of Anstruther in Fife, who died following the horrific smash
Harrowing footage of the crash – captured on a dash-cam and from the bus – was played at the hearing late last year.
Mr Prentice said: ‘Several drivers and passengers from other vehicles ran to assist the occupants of both cars.
‘There was nothing they could do to save the lives of Josephine and Martin Cousland.’
Murphy’s two sons – Alexander, 25, and 21 year-old Liam – were also affected.
Alexander suffered a spinal injury while Liam had a broken hip shattered in 12 places.
The court heard the Couslands – who had two daughters Penelope and Zoe – lived on a farmhouse in Anstruther.
The couple had been travelling to a hotel in Oban to meet their daughters before planning to start a holiday on the Isle of Mull.
But one of their children then got the ‘catastrophic news’ via a phone call from a police officer about the fatal crash.
The court earlier heard how Murphy was ‘haunted’ by what happened.
His KC Tony Graham said yesterday (Tue): ‘There is no attempt to mitigate the standard of driving.
‘It was an exceptionally foolhardy approach to that bend.
‘He is a man broken, but realises that is insignificant to what others have lost.’
Lord Arthurson cut the jail-term from 11 years due to the guilty plea.
After the hearing, the Couslands’ heartbroken daughters said no sentence will ‘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.’
