Cross community support group Families Bereaved Through Car Crime has distributed specially designed beer mats to local pubs and bars to raise awareness of joyriding and encourage support for its campaign.

The posters and beer mats showing pictures of victims of joyriders are now in pubs in Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, Newcastle, Ardglass and Dundrum.

The main hard-hitting picture is of Tyler Watson who was orphaned and seriously injured in an accident caused by joyriders.

Campaigner Kay Jones, from Clough, lost her nephew who was a pedestrian killed by joyriders in January 1999.

"Patrick was only 28 when he was run down by a stolen car," she said.

"My nephew is dead, our family has suffered, but the law does not punish these criminals severely enough."

Her sister Peggy Hanna and Peggy's daughter Margaret Muir started the campaign following Patrick's death.

Seven bereaved families joined forces to form the cross community support group and have been to Westminster and Stormont to campaign for tougher sentences for joyriders.

Peggy Hanna told the Democrat they had received a positive response from all political parties but have been disheartened by the lack of real action being taken.

"My son's murderer served only 18 months for his crime.

"The passengers in the vehicle were not even charged," she said.

"A recent case very similar to my son's has just been heard and a similar sentence was handed down.

"This situation needs to change immediately."

Currently, joyriders who cause death are charged under the Northern Ireland Road Traffic Offences Act for causing death by dangerous driving.

This charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

The fact that the perpetrators are driving a stolen vehicle has no bearing on the charge.

"These offenders drive stolen vehicles, flee the scene of the accident and in most cases don't even report the accident.

"But they are charged under legislation which would apply to any other driver who is involved in an accident in their own car," Margaret Muir said.

The group said it wants a totally separate offence to be created for joyriding crime that recognises the additional circumstances involved. "The new offence must carry a mandatory sentence of fifteen years.

"And those people carried as passengers in stolen cars must also be made amenable to the law," Margaret added.

A local Downpatrick publican, who did not wish to be named, has welcomed the campaign saying he is sure other bar owners would feel the same.

"I am more than happy to support the campaign by using the beer mats in my pub, but would advise that under 18s be targeted as well," he said.

 

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