#bin lorry

UK News

Fatal bin lorry crash avoidable 'had driver not lied about his health'

An inquiry has found the driver in the fatal Glasgow bin lorry crash "deliberately misled" doctors over his medical history. The report of the fatal accident inquiry into the tragedy also ruled Harry Clarke "deliberately concealed relevant information from the DVLA" and he "repeatedly lied in order to gain and retain jobs and licences". The 58-year-old lorry driver collapsed unconscious at the wheel of his truck on 22 December, 2014. The vehicle careered out of control in Glasgow's George Square, killing six people and injuring 15.

Mr Clarke deceived all three doctors in the hope that he would be able to return to work sooner rather than later so that he would not lose his job with First Bus.

John Beckett QC

The inquiry found the crash might have been avoided if Mr Clarke had "told the truth" about his history of blackouts. In his report, Sheriff John Beckett QC said: "It may well be that the single most useful outcome of this inquiry would be to raise awareness of the dangers involved in driving if subject to a medical condition which could cause the driver to lose control of a vehicle." He listed eight "reasonable precautions" which could have prevented the accident, all in relation to the concealment of Mr Clarke's medical history. The FAI report made 19 recommendations in total and suggested local authorities have advanced emergency brake systems fitted to large refuse trucks.

Sheriff Beckett has made a number of recommendations and we are now considering how to implement them.

UK News

Hundreds attend funeral for Glasgow family killed by runaway bin lorry

Hundreds of mourners have gathered for the funeral of three members of the same family killed when a bin lorry crashed into Christmas shoppers in Glasgow. Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68 and Lorraine Sweeney, 69, all died when the out-of-control refuse vehicle ploughed into pedestrians in the city's George Square three days before Christmas. Some 700 people packed in to St Patrick's RC Church in Dumbarton, where the family live, for a joint requiem mass for the teenager and her grandparents, with more mourners standing outside.

This is a family devastated by the tragic deaths all at once of three much-loved members. They were struck down in front of Jacqueline's eyes. A festive and happy Christmas shopping excursion to Glasgow had become the worst of nightmares.

Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow

Why Be An Internet Troll When You Can Be An Internet Moomin..?

It’s a sad fact of life that there has always been vile people in the world making even more vile comments. In the days of social media it’s given these “trolls” more of a much wider audience… (more…)