Going Down, Going Down, Going Down...
Monday, 20th Jul 2009 13:46

July 20th, 2009, mark this date. The date when the people who nearly took Derby County out of existence were finally brought to justice.

Today at Northampton Crown Court, His Honour Judge Ian Alexander QC passed sentence on disgraced former directors Jeremy Keith, Murdo, Mackay, Andrew Mackenzie and David Lowe. The sentences were as follows;

Jeremy Keith 18 mths
Murdo Mackay 3 yrs
Andrew Mackenzie 3 yrs
David Lowe 2 years

Additionally, all were disqualified as directors, Keith for three years, Mackay and and Mackenzie for five years each. Costs were estimated at £250,000 but financial matters have been adjourned for a further three months for enquiries to be made including into overseas accounts.

Your court reporter was most satisfied to see the guilty parties led away from court in handcuffs. Andrew Mackenzie was twice heard on Friday to say that he was throwing a party if he got a non-custodial sentence. Well... there'll be no party at the Mackenzies' this evening, it'll be porridge courtesy of Her Majesty's Prison Service instead.

Today, all those RamsTrust members who so actively campaigned against them, spent hours and hours researching their backgrounds and financial dealings can justifiably feel vindicated and afford themselves a celebratory drink and pat on the back, as can all those who joined the RPG and campaigned so noisily and effectively at home games.

Summing up, His Honour Judge Alexander said "Before your convictions on this indictment all four of you were men of some prominence in your respective professional lives and to some extent public figures.

"When dishonesty and fraud is perpetrated by those to whom others are entitled to look up to by virtue of their position or occupation, and who appear to have been successful in their lives, the fall from grace is in some ways more reprehensible and must be dealt with accordingly.

"The spectre of prominent members of society behaving in such a dishonest way, on this scale, without any apparent hesitation, conscience or remorse, is very unedifying and can only be dealt with by immediate custodial sentences."

Our court reporter also tells that on Friday, whilst receiving pleas of mitigation from the four, HH Judge Alexander responded "But you denied the charges and continued to deny them" and thus signalled that he was not about to be duped by their pleas for charity.

Today has been a good day for Derby County FC and its fans. Justice has been done and although this court case is probably far from the thoughts of Nigel Clough and his squad, the club can go into the new season having been able to put this most sorry period in Rams history firmly behind them.

Photo: Action Images

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