The mother of murdered Matthew Cassidy said her son had been vibrant, funny, gentle and “so alive”.

Two men convicted of murdering the teenager on Deeside - David John Woods, 20, and Leslie Peter Baines, 48 - receieved life sentences at Mold Crown Court on Monday.

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Jane Cassidy said that they had been a normal, happy family.

RELATED: CCTV footage shows final moments of teenager Matthew Cassidy murdered in Deeside

Their lives revolved around Matthew, his well-being and interests.

In the statement, read by junior prosecutor Elen Owen, she said that the day he was murdered their lives changed for ever.

When she saw his body in the mortuary she could not believe what she was seeing, she said.

He had so much to live for – so many unfulfilled promises.

She told how she felt guilty that she had not been there when he needed her most.

“My heart has been ripped out and broken for ever,” she said.

Grandad James Cassidy said that the day Matthew was murdered, something died inside them all.

It was a big family which had been “completely devastated”, he said.

His loss could hardly be put into words.

Thinking about him every day, and thinking what the future would have held, was so hard to take.