Anger over death-driver's freedom

Leonard O'Driscoll was driving home with his family when he died

A widow says she is "disgusted" that the drink-driver who killed her husband is living freely in the Netherlands after absconding from an open prison.

Kim O'Driscoll, of Gower, south Wales, has appealed for help to ensure Dutchman Piet Minaard returns to jail.

Minaard was jailed in March 2003 after crashing into Leonard O'Driscoll's car.

He absconded from a Gloucestershire prison in December 2004. Avon and Somerset Police said proceedings were under way.

Mrs O'Driscoll has complained to her MP Martin Caton, the Home Office and MEP Glenys Kinnock after being told that Minaard was living in south-west Netherlands.

All we expected is just a small amount of justice, but this is ridiculous Kim O'Driscoll

The Sun newspaper photographed Minaard and told British police where he was, but said he was still free two weeks later.

Mrs O'Driscoll, who runs the King Arthur Hotel in Reynoldston, said: "I think we feel totally let down by the whole system and actually disgusted by it all".

Minaard, a trawler fisherman, was almost double the drink-drive limit when his Mercedes crashed head-on into Mr O'Driscoll's car in October 2002.

Mr O'Driscoll, 58, was driving home with his wife and teenage daughter. Minaard pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, and said he had swerved on to the wrong side of the road because he thought he was in mainland Europe.

Piet Minaard was nearly twice the drink-drive limit

He was jailed for five years, which was reduced to four on appeal. In December 2003 he was transferred to Leyhill open prison, but absconded from there a year later.

The Sun reported that Dutch authorities could not extradite him unless he was suspected of carrying out a crime, and the act of escaping from jail was not considered a crime there.

The newspaper also said the offence which led to his imprisonment did not count as a "suspected crime" because he had already been convicted.

Information is being acted upon Avon and Somerset Police

Mrs O'Driscoll, 48, complained that she had not been told officially that Minaard had been moved to an open prison, and only found out he had absconded through Victim Support.

She told BBC Radio Wales: "It's beyond us why he was put into an open prison after a very short time.

"He was put into an open prison after 14 months, which out of a four-year sentence is nothing.

"All we expected is just a small amount of justice, but this is ridiculous."

Mrs O'Driscoll said her family's lives had been "turned upside down" by the tragedy, and Minaard should have to suffer some of that trauma.

"If our country, which is one of the most civilised in the world apparently, can't go and get him then I am totally disgusted."

Avon and Somerset Police, who are responsible for tracking Minaard, said proceedings were ongoing.

A police spokesman said they were liaising with the Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service, prison authorities and authorities in the Netherlands.

"Information is being acted upon," said the spokesman.