Billy Donnelly's death a Terrible family tragedy

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

Simon Hughes, MP for Southwark North and Bermondsey, made a statement today after the death of Billy Donnelly in Rolls Road, Bermondsey yesterday afternoon.

Mr Hughes said:

"Young Billy's death is an terrible tragedy for his parents and family and the harshest of blows to their many friends and neighbours. The whole community is united in shock, horror and grief - mixing anger and sorrow at yesterday's fatal events.

"In the short term everybody's job is to support the family as they live through these terrible days ahead.

"After that, we must return to the question of how best youngsters can be prevented from stealing vehicles and driving recklessly. There can be no clearer sign than yesterday's events as to how dangerous this is. We must now hope that a combination of the law doing its job quickly and very clearly and all those with authority working to rein in teenagers who misbehave, will produce safer streets and safer communities in the future."