THE family of a nine-year-old boy killed by a speeding joyrider will not receive a penny in compensation because their solicitor failed to submit an application in time.

An independent arbitration panel has ruled Cheryl Doyle, of Redwood Close in Greater Leys, Oxford, cannot be compensated for the death of her son Ross six years ago.

The review of the decision by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which protects victims of uninsured, untraced or negligent drivers, added family solicitor Jeremy Irwin-Singer missed the MIB's three-year deadline. The panel added the family would have been entitled to £7,500 payout if the claim was submitted before the cut-off period.

Mr Irwin-Singer, of Tarlo Lyons, in Oxford, has apologised to the family, who said they feel 'let down by others'.

Ross died in 2000 when he was hit by a stolen car and the drivers have never been found.

Mrs Doyle said: "We were half expecting it after all this time but it is still a kick in the teeth when you realise we have been let down by others."

Mrs Doyle added no amount of money could bring her son back.

The compensation application was made in 2004 following an inquest ruling into Ross' death.

An appeal was lodged by solicitors acting for the family against the decision by the MIB made last year to reject the compensation claim.

A spokesman for the MIB said: "Unfortunately the agreement does not allow for any discretion and we are bound by this ruling."

The MIB has covered the cost of the arbitration process in full.

In a letter to the family by Jeremy Irwin-Singer, of Tarlo Lyons solicitors, he said: "The legal position is that I should have made the claim on the family's behalf within the three-year period. I should not have waited until the outcome of the inquest or the outcome of any police enquiries which took us beyond the three-year period.

"I am very sorry about this because although there are very unusual circumstances to this case, there is no discretion to allow claims to be made outside the three-year rule."

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said the family was now in a position to make a claim against their solicitors.

He said: "This is a further cruel twist to a distressing and tragic series of events."

Mr Irwin-Singer said: "I am as disappointed as the family that the MIB has no discretion. The case for compensation will never end until the culprits are properly identified and prosecuted."