Families call for support as car crime murals are launched
by Roisin McManus
Families Bereaved Through Car Crime (FBTCC) are calling on local people to come out en masse on Tuesday for the launch of three anti-car crime murals.
The hard-hitting murals depict Tyler Watson, who was seriously injured by death-drivers who killed his mother and father, Charmaine and Justin Watson.
The murals have been painted by local artist Frank Quigley, whose son, Rossa, was killed by death drivers.
Frank has been working with a group of young people over several weeks to produce the murals which are part of an anti-car crime campaign by a range of community groups in North and West Belfast.
FBTCC was set up following the death of Ballymurphy teenager, Debbie McComb, in March 2002.
The group have campaigned tirelessly since then to keep their anti-car crime message in the spotlight.
The families have visited and lobbied the PSNI, politicians and the Lord Chancellor about death-driving.
Their campaign has been instrumental in bringing about new sentencing laws and new powers of arrest.
Tommy Holland, spokesman for FBTCC, said, “Families Bereaved Through Car Crime once again ask the thousands of good people who supported us and the political and community representatives who helped us along the way in our campaign to once again call for an end to death-driving, and for those involved to please stop now before they cause another death.
“More resources are needed for groups to tackle this issue and to work with young people and their families,” he added.
Murals will be unveiled at The Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road, at 1pm; Duncairn Avenue at 2pm; and on the Upper Springfield Road at 3pm. All are welcome.
Journalist:: Roisin McManus
