Mark Grant was 17 when he died on June 12, 2006 in a crash involving a car driven by Gareth McCaughan of Alveston Park in the village.

Last week McCaughan was given an 18 month prison term for causing Mark's death by dangerous driving after pleading guilty to the charge.

Judge Markey also imposed a six month probation order to begin when McCaughan leaves prison.

However Mark's mother Frances, who lost another son to cancer some years ago, said she believed the sentence was too lenient.

She said it sent out the wrong message to other so called 'boy racers' and pointed out McCaughan will be released in March if he remains entitled to full 50 per cent remission for good behaviour while in custody.

"This means he will serve just nine months which is far too little for someone who has caused a death on the roads by driving dangerously," she added.

Frances felt a sentence of between four and five years would have more adequately reflected the grief and devastation caused by Mark's sudden and untimely death.

She recalled how her son, a former Methodist College pupil, had watched a football match on television at a house in the Temple area before travelling home with a friend in a car driven by McCaughan.

Frances said her son and his friend had urged McCaughan to slow down on a number of occasions.

She also said Mark had been struggling to put on his seatbelt at the moment of impact after realising a crash was inevitable.

Tragically, he was unsuccessful and ended up being thrown through the rear windscreen.

For Frances every mother's worst nightmare began with a call from a friend who was told about the accident by someone using a mobile.

She and Mark's sister immediately went to the scene but by the time they got there his body had been removed.

The two women also had to face the very painful task of going to Ballyclare to break the news to Mark's father William from whom Frances is separated.

Mark's mother said she felt Mark's life had been wiped out before it began.

"He came out of Methody with nine GCSE's but he just was not interested in the academic world," she explained. "He was working in a factory in Ballynahinch but he really wanted to learn a trade."

She also compared the manner in which he died with the way in which her other son passed away.

"He died with dignity with people around him who loved him," she said.

"However, Mark was thrown through the rear windscreen on to the road."

Frances also felt young drivers had to accept the 'speed kills' message, pointing out McCaughan had been speeding at the time of the crash: "They must realise they are driving a lethal weapon. They must drive within the speed limit," she said.