SIR: Congratulations to Mr F Pollitt of Farnworth for his comments on prison sentences in the BEN recently.

When this story first broke my heart went out to the Kennedy family. I know only too well of their pain, grief and tremendous anger. Our family were bereaved of our seven-year-old son in 1992 because of the irresponsible careless driving by the driver of a soft drinks van. Not an hour of the day passes without our thoughts going out to our lad.

I also agree with Mr Pollitt's comments, that if Mr Howarth was so devastated by Tracy's death, he wouldn't have got behind the wheel of a vehicle again. Some drivers don't care.

My son's case was treated with even less regard than Tracy's by the Crown Prosecution Service. The police prosecuted, and both the police and the coroner were very supportive. We had high hopes of some form of fine or punishment for the driver. Eventually the CPS said it was "not in the public interest to take the case any further". We didn't want the driver imprisoned, but we needed some justice - any justice. However, the police have told us if we ever try to get revenge, by attacking the people responsible, we will be taken to court and prosecuted. You're right Mr Pollitt, the law is an ass.

Thousands of families are bereaved of their children, because of road incidents every year. Only when this terrible situation affects a prominent figure in society - ie. a politician, a judge, a prison official, will the law be changed. I wish the CPS could spend one hour of the day inside my mind, and know how I long to see my child again.

Sympathetic, Bolton

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