A man who admitted causing the death of his cousin's daughter by dangerous driving, after hitting the schoolgirl while her father was a passenger in the car, has been jailed for five years.
Martin McGuire, 39, was driving at 51mph in a 30mph zone when he hit 12-year-old Abbie McLaren as she crossed the road after getting off a bus in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, on February 12 this year.
She was flung onto a parked car, suffering multiple injuries, and was pronounced dead in hospital that evening.
McGuire last month admitted causing Abbie's death by dangerous driving, and also driving without a licence or insurance when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.
Judge Lady Scott imposed the five-year jail term and an eight-and-a-half year driving ban when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday.
She said: "Abbie McLaren was 12 years old. She was a child with her whole life ahead of her.
"She was well-loved by her close family, especially her mum, brothers and sisters and her grandparents.
"All have been left devastated and will be forever bereft."
The horror smash took place at The Loaning when McGuire's red Citroen hit Abbie as she began to cross the road.
Abbie and an 11-year-old got off a First Bus outside the U-Save shop and started to cross the road.
Her friend stopped halfway, but Abbie continued to cross and was hit by the car.
Abbie’s father Adam McLaren, who is McGuire’s cousin, was in the vehicle at th time. Abbie lived with her mother and step-father and had no contact with her father.
The schoolgirl who was described by her family as “enjoying life to the full and very popular” suffered horrific injuries and died in hospital the next day.
