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Mother's anger at crash sentence Mother's anger at crash sentence
(30 minutes later)
The mother of a teenager who was killed in a car crash has criticised the sentence given to the driver of the other car.The mother of a teenager who was killed in a car crash has criticised the sentence given to the driver of the other car.
Daniel Burke, 19, died in the accident near Legacurry in County Down in October 2005.Daniel Burke, 19, died in the accident near Legacurry in County Down in October 2005.
22-year-old Nathan Coates from the Arches in Crossgar admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Nathan Coates, 22, from the Arches in Crossgar admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Maureen Burke said the six month sentence he received was "an insult" to her family.Maureen Burke said the six month sentence he received was "an insult" to her family.
"While Natan Coates gets six months and is going to have his life we've lost a son who was only really starting to enjoy life... ," she said. "While Natan Coates gets six months and is going to have his life, we've lost a son who was only really starting to enjoy life... ," she said.
"It took two years and nearly four months before it got to this stage, and it shouldn't have took that long, we're really going through an awful bad time.""It took two years and nearly four months before it got to this stage, and it shouldn't have took that long, we're really going through an awful bad time."
Craigavon Crown Court judge Patrick Markey QC had handed the six month term of detention to Coates on Thursday on condition that he serve a further 12 months on probation.Craigavon Crown Court judge Patrick Markey QC had handed the six month term of detention to Coates on Thursday on condition that he serve a further 12 months on probation.
RemorseRemorse
He told Coates that despite the lack of aggravating features and "lesser culpability" in the case, "I'm driven, I think" to impose a custodial term.He told Coates that despite the lack of aggravating features and "lesser culpability" in the case, "I'm driven, I think" to impose a custodial term.
"To you and your people," the judge said, "it will seem an injustice maybe and out of proportion and the sort of sentence I will impose will seem (to the Burke family) inadequate but that's what I have to do.""To you and your people," the judge said, "it will seem an injustice maybe and out of proportion and the sort of sentence I will impose will seem (to the Burke family) inadequate but that's what I have to do."
Coates had been taking four friends to a nightclub at 2120 GMT on 29 October 2005 when he failed to stop at the four-way junction where the Comber Road and Old Ballynahinch Road meet.Coates had been taking four friends to a nightclub at 2120 GMT on 29 October 2005 when he failed to stop at the four-way junction where the Comber Road and Old Ballynahinch Road meet.
He clipped Mr Burke's car sending it into a nearby field where it came to rest on its side. The 19-year-old died at the scene.He clipped Mr Burke's car sending it into a nearby field where it came to rest on its side. The 19-year-old died at the scene.
Defence said Coates was genuinely remorseful about the crash and has stopped driving since the accident.Defence said Coates was genuinely remorseful about the crash and has stopped driving since the accident.