Judge's blast as he can't sentence Scots drug dealer over pensioner's death
A judge has hit out after he was unable to sentence a drug dealer over the death of a pensioner - because the killer wasn't brought to court.
Temporary Judge John McCormick said it "beggars belief" how often security firm GeoAmey are unable to transport prisoners on time.
He blasted the firm after it emerged John Moore was not due to arrive at the High Court in Paisley until 1.30pm today, Friday, September 11, 2026, when his case was called at 10am.
Moore, 32, struck Andrew McMenamin, 79, in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, during a dangerous driving rampage
He was speeding in his Audi sports car with personal reg when he hit Mr McMenamin, who was crossing the road.
Paul Nelson KC, representing Moore, told the court during today's hearing that Moore's ETA had been pushed back and pushed back, with the firm settling on 1.30pm.
He said he was unable to wait the three-and-a-half hours until Moore arrived due to other cases he is involved in.
He also pointed out that a trial was running in the court and that a jury were waiting for the sentencing hearing to finish, and added: "It's a fairly unsatisfactory matter."
He mentioned press coverage of numerous similar previous delays and added: "The public are not getting the service they expect."
Temporary Judge McCormick said: "The regular failure of GeoAmey to bring prisoners to the High Court in Paisley beggars belief.
"There is a considerable cost to the public purse, not to mention the delivery of justice."
He then adjourned the sentencing hearing until next week.
Moore struck the pensioner in Glasgow Road, Uddingston, on May 17, 2023.
The High Court in Paisley heard he was driving his £60,000 Audi RS 3 Vorsprung TFSI quattro - with registration H8 XJM - at "excessive speeds".
The jury was told he was driving at more than 60-miles-per-hour in a 20-miles-per-hour limit before the crash.
The court also heard that he had seen Mr McMenamin from 100 yards away and was doing 37-miles-per-hour when he hit the pensioner on the 30-miles-per-hour road.
The jury was told that he hit Mr McMenamin with such force the pensioner was "thrown into the air".
The court heard the pensioner was "so severely injured that he died" as a result of the incident.
When Moore was convicted, Temporary Judge McCormick said: "This was dangerous driving.
"You had visibility of approximately 100 yards and were doing 37-miles-per-hour on a 30-miles-per-hour road.
"He died at the scene. I have read the victim impact statement submitted by his daughter."
Five months after the road death, Moore, of Carntyne, Glasgow, was spared jail over a bid to flood Barlinnie Prison with drugs.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard he handed 1,463 street Valium tablets to jail guard Martin McGee in a car park in Glasgow's Maryhill area.
McGee claimed he later stashed the tablets inside a rowing machine at HMP Barlinnie, in the east end of the city.
McGee was being watched by senior prison staff and had been spotted talking to two long-term inmates who were linked to organised crime.
McGee claimed the pair threatened him if he did not help them in their plot.
Moore was sentenced to do 270 hours of unpaid work as part of a Community Payback Order, and was made the subject of a Restriction of Liberty Order (RoLO).
The RoLO saw him being electronically tagged and having to stay in his home between 7pm and 7am every day for nine months.
The charge against McGee was found not proven after he lodged a special defence of coercion.
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