Showing posts with label 2 Read this next. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Read this next. Show all posts

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Birthdays of Tears



Oct 27: Marci's birthday. He would be 13 this year.
Oct 30: Petra's birthday. She would be 10 years old on this day.

More than 8 years after his crime, Ciaran Tobin, who killed two children in Hungary on April 9, 2000, is still a free man. Hungary never really cared to punish him, and nor has Ireland. Shame on both.

The Foundation will continue to draw attention to the tragic fate of Marci and Petra, children of Leányfalu, Hungary, and the appalling mockery of the Hungarian judicial process that ensued after Ciaran Tobin's crime.

Rest in Peace, children. We love you and we shall continue to fight for you.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Is speeding an accident?


"It's over. It was an accident", screams Ms Tobin at Mr Papp of TV2 as she instructs him to get off her property on April 25, 2008, almost 8 years to the day she sat, pregnant, next to her husband as he killed Marci and Petra Zoltai.

We respectfully disagree: speeding is not an accident. It's a choice.

May we add also: after driving some 30 meters on the sidewalk, Mr. Tobin had three choices: hit the bus on the left, hit the stone wall on the right, or hit the kids in the middle. He chose to hit the kids, thereby saving himself, his pregnant wife, his kid in the back and two guests. The car came to a stop 50 meters on. It's only by sheer luck that no one else was killed: many people had just got on the waiting bus mere seconds before Tobin appeared from nowhere.

It must be made clear, this was not an "accident". He ventured onto the sidewalk, at high speed, deliberately. According to witnesses, he actually used the sidewalk for the past few miles to overtake other cars (some say he was racing with another driver). So he mounted the sidewalk, supposedly in an effort to overtake the bus from the right (!), at about 80 kmh in a 40kmh zone. He drove 30 meters on the sidewalk before he knocked down a traffic sign, hit the waiting children, one of them in a stroller, and took another 50 meters to stop. That's at least 80 meters of racing on the sidewalk. The word for this is not "accident" but willful negligence and a deliberate ignorance for others' safety, which, at 4pm on April 9, 2000, resulted in the deaths of Marci Zoltai (5) and Petra Zoltai (2), both citizens of the Republic of Hungary. To this day, this crime remains unpunished. No, not in an inpenetrably remote corner of the world. Here, in the heart of Europe. Is this what Marci and Petra deserve? Is this what humanity demands? Is this what the written and unwritten law commands? Is this the kind of society we want, one where crimes like this go unpunished?

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The bottom line


As you may know by now, this site is about one Ciaran Tobin, of Cairn Manor, Ratoath, Co Meath, Ireland.
Why, you may ask.
We'll say it again. And again:
the man killed two children, Marci Zoltai (4) and Petra Zoltai (2) on April 9, 2000. He confessed to the crime. He was convicted in a Court of Law in the Republic of Hungary and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for what he did. He's never spent one minute in jail. He simply bought his way out of the country.
The case highlights Hungarian incompetency, Irish embarrassment, legal and linguistic acrobatics, and EU's ineffectiveness.
Look Marci and Petra in the eye! And tell us this is not true. Not in Europe, not in 2008. The loss of the two precious children, knocked down instantly by a speeder is unbearable in itself. The fact that the perpetrator has gone unpunished for the past 8 years increases our suffering exponentially.
This is not the way to build a Union.
The family, friends and all of us in the beautiful village of Leányfalu, and the whole country, have been suffering immeasurably for 8 years, with no justice served. Even World Ward II was over in 6 years.
How can one man fool a Community of 25 Nations?
We urge, in the strongest terms, all European decision-makers to find a solution to this legal and moral mess.
But most of all, we urge the Governments of Hungary and Ireland to work together like Marci and Petra did in their brief lives, like brothers and sisters, to find an acceptable solution so that what has been lost in our souls - humanity, hope, justice, trust, and yes, the dream of a United Europe - can be restored.

On behalf of Marci and Petra Zoltai, and all of us on this Continent, thank you.

The Foundation

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Daddy speeding "accidentally"



"It was an accident", some may say. Right. Let's see. According to witnesses, Ciaran Tobin had been, at the time of the "accident", speeding recklessly for a good 20-30 minutes coming back from Visegrád to Budapest, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, on a two-lane road, through mostly residential neighbourhoods, enjoying his fast car, overtaking constantly using both the left lane and the shoulder (!) on the right. All the while, his pregnant wife sitting next to him.

When inside the picturesque village of Leányfalu, at a bus stop outside the library, he ventured out in the left lane again, one too many times. Bad judgement of speed, time and space and an upcoming car. And his own abilities.

According to court papers the car was moving at 70-85 km/h at the time of the impact. After hitting and knocking down two traffic signs, one a speed limit, the other one a pedestrian's crossing, that is.

Marci was standing in the middle of the sidewalk, Petra sitting in a pram, waiting to cross on the Zebra. They were thrown away some 10 meters, and the Volvo only stopped on hitting a bus.

Parents, who lived nearby, were called on the phone, and ran to the scene. Paramedics were helpless. Marci and Petra died instantly. They were pronounced dead by the doctor of the helicopter ambulance.

According to court papers, although Tobin variably claimed a technical failure of the car, experts established there was nothing wrong with the Volvo S40.

Various news sources and the father's post on the index.hu forum on April 12, 2000, three days after the accident, were used for this post.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

The second post of Marci and Petra's father, 04.12.2000


It says it all (translation to follow):
"Köszönöm, hogy sokan kifejeztétek a részvéteteket, ismeretlentől-ismerőstől jól esik. Azért azt fontos tudnotok, hogy nem azzal a szándékkel írtam le az eseményeket (nem volt könnyű), hogy magamat sajnáltassam. Inkább azt szeretném elérni, hogy néhányunk fejében megfoganjon a gondolat, hogy nem úgy vezetünk, nem úgy élünk, ahogy kellene. A másik célom, hogy találjak olyanokat, akik akarnak és tudnak tenni valamit azért, hogy ne történjen meg ugyanez máskor, máshol. Az eredményekről majd hamarosan írok."

April 9, 2000

Three days after the death of his children, Bence Zoltai, the father of Marci and Petra, opened a forum on index.hu. This is the opening post (translation will follow, but until then, just click on the youtube kid with the yellow shirt on the right, that'll give you a pretty good idea):

"Biztosan sokan láttátok a vasárnapi leányfalui baleset képeit a TV-ben. Én a két elütött gyerek apja vagyok, és el szeretném mondani nektek, hogyan történt minden. Vasárnap délután mindig nagy a forgalom a 11-es úton Pest felé, jönnek haza az emberek a Dunakanyarból. Most is tele volt az út. A gyerekek nagymamája és nagynénije a Dunapartra indultak sétálni Marcival és Petrával. Marci 4 és fél éves volt, nagyon okos kisfiú, tele huncutsággal. Külön kis világot épített fel magának élénk fantáziájában: az utóbbi időben azt játszotta, hogy ő griffmadár, farsangra is griff-jelmezt készítettünk neki az oviba. Petra másfél éves volt, kedvességével, és azzal, ahogy odabújt az emberhez, mindenkit levett a lábáról. Már totyogva jött-ment ő is, mindenre fel akart mászni, és követte Marcit mindenhová a kertben, a lakásban. Nagyon szerették egymást, Petra minden reggel hamarabb ébredt Marcinál; amint kivettük az ágyból, tekert Marci mellé. Mindkét gyerekünk nehezen jött össze, nem csoda, hogy aztán egész életünk róluk szólt. Nap mint nap láttuk, milyen boldogak, milyen jó helyre születtek. A főúthoz leérve a két felnőtt megállt egy zebránál, nem akartak addig átmenni, amíg a zebra után közvetlenül álló busz el nem megy, hiszen nem láthatták a jobbról jövő autókat. Balról, mint már írtam, folyamatos volt a kocsisor, a busz miatt lassítottak, és 20-30-cal haladva kerülgették ki. Eközben Visegrád felől nagyon gyorsan jött egy Volvó, amit egy 30 körüli ír vezetett. (Hátul egy nő és gyerekülésben egy kisgyerek ültek.) Egyik arrajáró elmesélte, hogy már legalább 1 km-en át előzgette a kocsisort, ha jöttek szembe, be-bevágódott egy résbe. Közeledve a buszhoz látta, hogy nem tud továbbmenni, és talált egy rést két kocsi között. Ugyanazzal a lendülettel azonban továbbvágódott jobbra, a járda felé. A járda alig pár centi magas ott, felszaladt rá, kidöntött egy közlekedési táblát, 20-30 méter után átment egy kereszteződésen, ami már közvetlen a zebra és a buszmegálló előtt van, és kidöntött még egy táblát. A gyerekek a járda közepén voltak, Marci a kocsi felől, Petra babakocsiban beszíjazva mellette. A felnőttek a járda melletti alacsony kőfal tövében vártak, a nagymama fogta a babakocsit. A száguldó autót nem is vették észre. A Volvó elütötte a gyerekeket, akik vagy tíz métert repültek. Petra kirepült a babakocsiból. Mindketten azonnal meghaltak. Az autó még végigszántott a busz belső oldalát, majd az ütközéstől és a kivágódott gumik miatti defekt hatására megállt. A sofőr a defekttel és azzal védekezett, hogy véletlenül fék helyett gázt nyomott. (A sofőr által mondottakat csak közvetve hallottam.) Minket pár perc múlva hívtak telefonon, nagyon gyorsan odaértünk. A mentősők már ott voltak, próbálták a két gyereket újraéleszteni. Mindent megtettek, nem tudhatták, hogy szinte mindenük megsérült, és már nem volt tovább. A halált a kiérkező helikopteres mentő orvosa állapította meg. Életünk értelme, két kis apróság ott volt a karjainkban, és semmit nem tehettünk értük."

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Közlemény (translation to follow)


Az "Igazságot Marcinak és Petrának Alapítvány" nemzeti és európai fontosságú ügynek, minden magyar állampolgár, minden európai polgár, minden szülő és minden érző ember ügyének tekinti az ötéves Zoltai Marci és a kétéves Zoltai Petra, két gyönyörű kisgyermek ellen 2000. április 9-én elkövetett bűntettet.

Elvárja, hogy a Magyar Köztársaság és az Ír Köztársaság és az Európai Unió hatóságai megtalálják a módját annak, hogy ez az égbekiáltó bűn ne maradjon bűntetlenül.

Az Alapítvány minden rendelkezésre álló eszközével és a közvélemény erejével elő kívánja segíteni a hatóságoknak a Ciaran Tobin-ügyben végzett munkáját.

Nem túlzás azt állítani, hogy az ügy kapcsán az egész Európai Unió megítélése a tét. Bűn nem maradhat bűntetlen csak azért, mert a bűnelkövető az Unió egyik városából a másikba költözött.

Segítse munkánkat azzal, hogy mindenki figyelmét felhívja Marci és Petra, a Magyar Köztársaság két ifjúszívű polgárának történetére és erre a weboldalra. Felnőttként, szülőként, magyarként, európaiként ennyivel, ennyivel tartozunk nekik.

Köszönettel,

Az Alapítvány

Hungarian Justice Minister's Letter to EU Vice President















Ezúton szeretnénk megköszönni Dr. Draskovics Tibor, Igazságügyi és Rendészeti Miniszternek, hogy a legmagasabb fórumok szintjére emelte az ügyet.

"The Republic of Hungary has joined the European Union for, among other reasons, the assurance that a crime would always be followed by due punishment. I find it extremely regrettable that one of the most important principles of the European Union, the principle of the area of freedom, security and justice, has been seriously injured in the case of Ireland, on account of the above mentioned unsolved affair."

Dr. Tibor Draskovics, Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement, Republic of Hungary


Read the full letter:

To Mr. Franco Frattini
Vice-President of the Furopean Commission responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security

Brussels

Dear Mr. Vice-President,

Allow me to draw your attention to a tragic event affecting the cooperation between two member states of the European Union; a case which due to its unsolved nature has attracted much public attention to date in Hungary.

On the 9th April 2000 Francis Ciaran Tobin Irish national was driving his car in the inhabited area of a settlement near Budapest, significantly exceeding the permitted speed limit, when he drove onto the pavement hitting two siblings, aged 5 and 2, who died immediately.

The Hungarian courts having proceeded in the case found Tobin guilty of having caused road accident by negligent driving resulting in death, and sentenced him to three years imprisonment. Since the sentenced person had returned to his native country while the proceedings had still been pending, the Hungarian authorities attempted to serve on him the injunction inviting him to start to serve his due punishment. The service of the injunction, however, was rejected by the Irish Ministry of Justice, Equality and Law Reform referring to domestic legal obstacles.

The Hungarian authorities have firmly and resolutely demanded Tobin's extradition before all possible fora and in all possible ways, for example by initiating his international search. Despite these efforts, the Irish courts - holding that Tobin's leave from Hungary was not to be regarded as flee from the law - repeatedly hindered that Tobin serve his due punishment either in Hungary or in the Republic of Ireland.

In my opinion a person who fails to comply with a sentence imposed on him as a final court decision obviously flees from the execution of the sentence. Moreover, not even the provisions of the framework decision on the European arrest warrant can be construed as if they were applicable only to sentenced persons having fled.

When the identity of the person having caused the death of two innocent children is known and as a result of a formal criminal procedure due punishment was meted out on him in a final court decision, no situation barring the execution of the imposed sentence is acceptable.

On the 28 March 2008 I met the Irish Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I have made it clear, that it is unacceptable for me to leave a crime unpunished. The Minister accepted this principle and understood that in our view, in the instant case, this principle has been violated by the conduct of the Irish authorities, which is equally unacceptable for me, for the Government of the Republic of Hungary, and for our citizens.

The Republic of Hungary has joined the European Union for, among other reasons, the assurance that a crime would always be followed by due punishment. I find it extremely regrettable that one of the most important principles of the European Union, the principle of the area of freedom, security and justice, has been seriously injured in case of Ireland, on account of the above mentioned unsolved affair.

It is capable to fundamentally undermine the European citizen's faith in the European Union, if a perpetrator sentenced in one member state by a final decision can evade the execution of his due punishment in another member state.

Hereby I would like to indicate that we insist on the European Union taking the most definite action in order to ensure that the speed-limit exceeder having caused the children's death and having thereby caused deep sorrow not only to the children's family but also to the whole nation, receives his due punishment.

Please be so kind as to examine what measures the European Commission can take in this both legally and morally unacceptable case, in order to ensure that Francis Ciaran Tobin starts serving his due sentence and that no similar cases will occur in the future.

Dear Mr. Vice-President, allow me to take the opportunity to express the assurances of my highest consideration.


Budapest, 16 April 2008

Friday, April 18, 2008

How you can help

Raise your voice, write your MP. Visit this website. Lay flowers. And above all, press, daily, all decision-makers involved to work together, for Marci and Petra, and for all of us, here, there and everywhere, to ensure the Judge's Sentence is carried out, sooner rather than later.

And don't ever, ever let anyone speed or drink'n'drive.

Just do it


Don't kid yourself. It was not an accident. Driving 90 km/h in a 50km/h zone was your choice. You have killed those two children.

You've been escaping justice for 8 years. Regain some respect by facing up for what you did.

Stop avoiding justice. Be a man, for once. Do your time. The damage you've been doing to your country's reputation (not to mention your employer, judging from the news) is, in itself, enough reason for you to stop kidding yours and yourself. Give yourself up.

Then, only then will you be able to look into the eyes of your own children, your wife and your neighbours, and hold your head up again: "Yes, folks, I made a terrible mistake. But I took the responsibility for it, finally."

You'd gain a bit (a very tiny bit) of our respect, too, for owning up for what you did: killing two kids, causing immeasurable, unimaginable suffering, and fooling yourself into thinking nothing ever happened. Not to mention causing uproad throughout the European Union.

Had you done the right thing all those years ago, you'd be out of jail by now, and nobody would know your name. Sorry, we can't guarantee that any more.