A disqualified drink-driver who drove into another car, killing church volunteer Louis Dube, has been jailed for eleven years and four months.
Ryan McElroy, 35, was three times over the limit and driving at 60mph in a 30mph zone in Gorton when the incident happened, on 5 December 2022. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Manchester Crown Court.
Postgraduate student, Louis Dube, 25, was studying for a master’s degree. He had been returning from an evening at Christian Revival Church in Manchester, where he was a volunteer, when McElroy struck the car in which he was a passenger. He died later in hospital.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), McElroy had been drinking all day, had taken diazepam and was disqualified from driving following a recent drink-driving conviction. The CPS said there was no evidence to indicate that he applied the brakes or attempted to reduce speed before the collision.
In a victim statement read to the court, Mr Dube's mother said Louis was "not only my son, but he was also my best friend, my mentor and the spiritual giant of our house".
"I now have a hole in my heart that no-one will ever fill," she said.
She added that she hoped McElroy's family could help him "find a meaningful purpose for his life".
"I sincerely release my pain of losing Louis through forgiveness," she said. "My heart breaks for you because you have lost him to a prison cell; I am deeply sorry for your loss."
