There was uproar in a Belfast court on Monday as a self-confessed killer driver walked free with an 18-month suspended jail term.
Family and friends of Adele Whiteside, 14, killed as she crossed the road on the way home from a friend's wedding in September two years ago, reacted with fury as Crown Court Judge Geoffrey Miller QC handed the term to Martin Thomas McDonnell.
There were calls of "disgrace, absolute disgrace" launched from the packed public gallery as McDonnell was led away from the dock.
On the morning his trial was due to begin in October McDonnell, 20, from Garnock in Belfast, pleaded guilty to causing her death by dangerous driving.
There were, the court heard, no aggravating factors.
Knocked down as she crossed Finaghy Road South, the teenager was flung into the air, landed over 50 metres way and tragically was pronounced dead at the scene.
In handing down the term, suspended for three years, Judge Miller said victim impact reports "reflect the searing pain and sense of loss" felt by Adele's family, her "young and vibrant life cut short" because McDonnell was driving too fast and not keeping a proper look-out on the road ahead.
"Nothing that this court can do can turn back the clock and restore a young life cut so tragically short to those to whom she meant most," said the judge, "but it is important that in approaching the task of sentencing, the court is aware and mindful of the hurt that has been caused and the wounds that will never heal."
Speaking outside the court Adele's father Alan, mother Shirley and sister Alana, lambasted the sentence as a "disgrace".
Shaking with emotion and anger, Mrs Whiteside said the entire family are still "absolutely heartbroken" over the death of "the greatest person you ever seen in your life".
"We are not the only family going through it all," said the extremely tearful mother, "something has to change in the justice system where they're [killer drivers] put away - I would've put him away and threw away the key...there's nobody getting justice anywhere."
At the time of the accident McDonnell had a clear criminal record.
In May last year, he was involved in a police chase after officers stopped him from taking his life from a motorway bridge.
Judge Miller said his failed suicide bid came as a direct result of the guilt he felt.
The judge revealed that from psychiatric reports, McDonnell tried suicide again at this time last year but that since then, "the risk of his attempting to repeat this in the future has diminished".
© UTV News