APPALLED readers have voiced their shock after Dean Brennan, the passenger in the car this hit and killed Violet-Grace Youens, has been released from jail.

Violet-Grace Youens, from Eccleston, died on Saturday, March 25 2017, after being struck by a stolen car the day before on Prescot Road.

The car had been travelling at 83mph in a 30mph zone.

Violet's grandmother Angela French suffered life changing injuries after being struck.

The driver, Aidan McAteer was sentenced to nine years and four months for pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

St Helens Star:

Violet died aged four in her parents arms, the day after the crash

Dean Brennan, the passenger in the car, was jailed for six years and eight months in total after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and assisting an offender by obtaining a passport for McAteer, who fled the country following the crash.

Brennan, from Prescot, now 30, was released on licence last month after serving half of his sentence, plus an additional three months which had been added on to his jail time.

The Star reported on Violet's family's anguish at the news, and took to social media to echo their disgust.

READ: Dean Brennan, passenger in car that killed Violet-Grace Youens, released from jail

Lynn Finney said: "This is an absolute joke!! He gets to live his life and the family serve a life sentence... Totally totally wrong.. this is no justice system"

Lyndsey A Taylor added: "He can't be released from prison already. If it only feels like yesterday for me it must feel like minutes for her parents!! This is wrong!!

"They was all in it together.. the justice system is wrong!! I feel for the family right now I really do.. the law needs to be changed."

Jennifer Bernadette Clarke said: "I am a grandmother and picture myself crossing that very road with one of my grandchildren my heart breaks for Violet's grandmother."

Rebecca Dunbar added: "What!! I can't believe what I have just read absolutely disgraceful I have no words that can describe my anger with this.

"What a joke this justice system is."