The parents of twin girls who were seriously injured by a car driven by a 21-year-old man last year have described an appeals’ court decision to slash his 10-year driving ban to six months as “an insult to society’s intelligence”.

Can someone tell me what he will be driving in jail? A wheelbarrow?

Angered by the “farcical”decision, Stephen and MonicaFalzon feel it also was senseless for the court to decide that the six-month driving ban, imposed on Maximilian Ciantar, should start immediately and not at the end of his two-year jail term.

The sisters, Sarah Marie and Rebecca Marie Falzon, are still recovering from the accident which occurred on the evening of April 28, 2010, as they crossed the pedestrian crossing after leaving their Christian doctrine class.

Mr Ciantar was driving his van, at 102 km/h, when his vehicle struck the girls.

Last week an appeals’ court confirmed Mr Ciantar’s jail term, reduced the driving ban and ruled that the ban should take effect immediately.

The judge noted that although Mr Ciantar had previous traffic convictions including driving without a licence, this was the first time he had been found guilty of reckless driving.

The law states that in such cases the motorist’s driving licence must be suspended for a minimum of three months but no maximum is specified, meaning the court has discretion. The law does not specify when a ban should come into effect.

Mr Falzon is critical of what he sees as gaping legal loopholes which worked against his girlsgetting justice.

“If something is left open to interpretation it should be interpreted to favour the victim not the criminal... I disagree with the judge’s interpretation. Since the ban is starting immediately, can someone tell me what he (Mr Ciantar) will be driving in jail? A wheelbarrow?”, Mr Falzon said.

Although Mr Ciantar was jailed for two years Mr and Mrs Falzon do not believe this should have affected the length of his driving ban.

“We are not just talking about justice here. The court is there to safeguard society and, in this case, it is not happening,” Mr Falzon said.

His wife added: “Because no action was taken before, when he was caught driving without a licence – which is a reckless deed in itself – we were his victims.”

To add to the farce, Ciantar was even awarded compensation

Her family was forced into a traumatic situation that was physically, psychologically and financially stressful.

“To add to the farce, he (Mr Ciantar) was even awarded compensation,” she said, referring to the €1,000 granted for a breach of human rights over restrictive bail conditions.

The Falzons recalled the hardships they faced over the past year.

“The scene still flashes before my eyes,” said Mr Falzon who witnessed his daughter being run over.

“I saw one daughter (Sarah) fly off and didn’t know where she ended up. Then I saw my other daughter take off like a rocket, smash against a car and get sandwiched between the parked car and his (Mr Ciantar’s) van only to be catapulted again... I was there, helpless, when I saw her land in the middle of the road. I didn’t even hear the sound of braking. Doesn’t the law make a distinction in such cases?” he said.

Rebecca suffered extensive injuries to the left side of her body including part of her brain and spent a few days in a coma. She still suffers from headaches and has not recovered complete control of her left side.

Her sister was suffered injuries to her right leg and has undergone two operations.

Although she walks normally, the recovery is not yet complete and she tires easily.

Time will tell whether her injured leg will grow at the same rate as her other one since she was hit on a growth plate. Both girls, especially Rebecca, had to face a gruelling recovery process that put a strain on all the family.

The Falzons are pulling themselves back together and are now considering pursuing the case further in the civil courts.

However, after seeing how the man who shattered their lives will soon be allowed back on the road, they are disheartened.

“We are very disappointed by what happened and lost faith in the court system... but we do thank all those who showed us solidarity throughout this ordeal,” Mrs Falzon said.