St Helens Star:

NEARLY 50,000 people have backed an e-petition calling for Violet-Grace’s Law, which demands the government pushes ahead immediately with plans to introduce tougher sentences for drivers who kill.

Violet-Grace Youens, from Eccleston, was struck by a speeding car on Friday, March 24 2017 on Prescot Road while walking home from nursery with her grandmother Angela French, 57.

The four-year-old died the next day in her parents’ arms.

The man behind the wheel of the car, Aidan McAteer, 25, was given a jail term of more than nine years for causing death by dangerous driving. He will serve only half of that time behind bars before being eligible for parole.

Dean Brennan the passenger in the vehicle, who admitted aggravating vehicle taking and assisting an offender, will also only serve half of his sentence of six years and eight months.

Violet’s parents Becky and Glenn say the sentences were not long enough and on Friday, February 15, launched an e-petition calling for parliament to consider the creation of Violet-Grace’s Law.

If passed, the law would give the courts the power to jail people convicted of causing death by dangerous driving for life in the most severe cases.

In October 2017 the Ministry of Justice pledged to introduce life sentences, but there has been a lack of progress. This week officials said the proposals would move “forward when parliamentary time allows”.

St Helens Star:

But Violet’s parents say the delay is not good enough. Becky, 31, said: “We have thought about doing this campaign since we were told of the possible sentences. We were shocked and horrified that they would only face such a short time (in prison).

“My beautiful little daughter lost her life, hopes and dreams and my mum has life changing injuries which will never be fully repaired, both physically and emotionally.

“Aidan McAteer will serve less time in prison than Violet was on this earth; how is that fair or right?

“He will be out before he is 30. Violet never got the chance to be 30, she didn’t have the chance to turn five. Violet has been let down, not by the police or the judge, but by the law.

“It was not an accident, it was not a one off, they had been driving recklessly and that day killed my daughter. The punishment does not fit the crime.

“My precious little girl and mum who tried to save her paid the price.”

St Helens Star:

The response so far has been astounding, with the 10,000 target for a government response being reached within two days.

The family need 100,000 signatures for it to be discussed in Parliament.

The matter of sentencing for those who cause death by dangerous driving was discussed in Parliament in October 2017, but as yet have not been passed into law.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said it remained committed to strengthening sentencing powers: “Killer drivers can ruin lives which is why we intend to give courts the power to hand down life sentences for death by dangerous driving – sending a clear message to those who drive irresponsibly.

“We will bring forward proposals for changes in the law when parliamentary time allows.”

St Helens Star:

Responding to this, Becky added: “That’s not acceptable. It’s just not good enough that we’ve waited 18 months already and nothing has been done.

“I appreciate other things matter but in the meantime people have died, children have died.

“Before this happened, I had never stepped into a court in my life, and because of what happened I had to sit there and see my baby’s killers be sentenced to such a small amount of time for taking her life. The Government has to make time now to talk about that and we won’t stop fighting until they do.

“What happened to my daughter could happen to anyone. We didn’t think it would happen to us, but it did and another little boy was hit in Manchester last month.

“We need this addressing now. It is coming up to my daughter’s second anniversary, for us this is fight or flight because we won’t let Violet’s death be in vain and this is the only way we can parent her now.

“We want Violet-Grace’s Law to be the difference in someone else getting the justice we didn’t get.

We could never have expected to have so many signatures and we are overwhelmed by the continued support by everyone, especially in St Helens, since the beginning. If you haven’t signed please do.”

n To sign the petition go to bit.ly/VioletGracesLaw