'Joyrider' loses jail term appeal

Debbie McComb, 15, was killed on the Springfield Road

The so-called joyrider who killed west Belfast schoolgirl Debbie McComb in 2001 has lost his appeal against his nine-year jail term.

Harry Marley, 22, from Colinward Street was jailed for nine years.

Marley had denied he was driving the car, but an Appeal Court judge said the accused had been identified as the driver at two critical points.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr said: "The identifications were made by people who knew him well."

He added: "This was crucial evidence. If he failed to enter the witness box to answer that evidence the jury were entitled to consider that failure of importance in their assessment as to whether he was guilty."

Marley denied he was driving the car and at his trial did not go into the witness box to give evidence.

The car, which was stolen earlier that day in Newry in County Down, was in collision with a police Land Rover shortly before the fatal smash and each time it did not stop.

Fifteen minutes later, the same car was involved in the death of the teenager on the Springfield Road.

The Lord Chief Justice, who heard the appeal with Lord Justices Nicholson and Sheil, said: "Those who saw Miss McComb struck by the car and flung into the air must have been horrified by that sight."

The dead girl's parents, Mary and Jim McComb, are members of the group, Families Bereaved Through Car Crime, which has been calling for tougher sentencing for so-called joyriders.