Inquiry hears of Glasgow lorry-crash driver’s dizzy spells

An inquiry has heard evidence that the driver of a bin lorry that crashed in Glasgow killing six people has a history of dizzy spells and fainting which he failed to disclose to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and on job application forms.

Harry Clarke (58) began his first day in the witness box by refusing to answer a number of the questions.

In answer to the majority of questions put to him in the morning session, Mr Clarke responded: “I don’t want to answer that” or ”No comment”.

Mr Clarke was asked by the solicitor general: “Do you understand that by choosing not to answer you are putting yourself first?”

He replied: “I wouldn’t agree with that.”

During subsequent evidence, the witness was asked to look at his medical records dating back to June 1976 which listed periods of dizziness and ill-health.

Following an interjection by his lawyer, Mr Clarke said: “I don’t wish to answer any more questions.”

The witness was also asked about his time as a driver with First Bus, where the inquiry has heard he worked before joining Glasgow City Council in 2011.

He was questioned about an incident on April 7th, 2010, when he is said to have blacked out at the wheel of a bus in the city.

Declined to answer

He was asked: “Do you recollect an incident where paramedics came to see you after a medical incident on a bus?” He replied that he did not want to answer.

Mr Clarke appeared before the inquiry after a motion from his lawyer, Ronnie Clancy, to have the hearing halted was rejected.

The sheriff said it was in the public interest that the inquiry should proceed.

Erin McQuade (18) and her grandparents Jack Sweeney (68) and Lorraine Sweeney (69) from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, Stephenie Tait (29) and Jacqueline Morton (51) both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing (52) from Edinburgh, were killed as the lorry travelled out of control towards George Square before crashing in to the side of the Millennium Hotel.

The Crown Office has already decided that Mr Clarke should not be prosecuted over the fatal crash.

But relatives of Ms Morton have indicated that they would seek to bring charges against Mr Clarke.

The inquiry was adjourned until Friday when Mr Clarke will continue giving evidence at 9.30am.