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| Glasgow bin lorry driver refuses to answer health questions at inquiry | Glasgow bin lorry driver refuses to answer health questions at inquiry |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Harry Clarke, the driver in the Glasgow bin lorry crash, has been accused of “putting himself first” after he refused to answer crucial questions about his history of fainting. | Harry Clarke, the driver in the Glasgow bin lorry crash, has been accused of “putting himself first” after he refused to answer crucial questions about his history of fainting. |
| Clarke, 58, repeatedly told a fatal accident inquiry into the crash “I don’t want to answer that” after lawyers for the families of two of the six people killed confirmed in court that they were planning a private prosecution. | Clarke, 58, repeatedly told a fatal accident inquiry into the crash “I don’t want to answer that” after lawyers for the families of two of the six people killed confirmed in court that they were planning a private prosecution. |
| After numerous warnings from the sheriff, Clarke refused to answer key questions about numerous doctors’ visits and medical tests for dizziness, fainting, vertigo, heart problems, tension headaches, operations on hands, and knee pain dating back to 1976. | |
| His testimony came in the fifth week of the hearing at Glasgow sheriff court into the accident last December, when Clarke fainted at the wheel of his bin lorry. It careered through the city’s busy streets, leaving six people dead and 15 injured. | His testimony came in the fifth week of the hearing at Glasgow sheriff court into the accident last December, when Clarke fainted at the wheel of his bin lorry. It careered through the city’s busy streets, leaving six people dead and 15 injured. |
| Tensions intensified in the court on Thursday morning when Lesley Thomson, the solicitor general, repeatedly challenged Clarke over what he knew about the events that day, and whether he knew the victims were mothers, fathers and grandparents. | Tensions intensified in the court on Thursday morning when Lesley Thomson, the solicitor general, repeatedly challenged Clarke over what he knew about the events that day, and whether he knew the victims were mothers, fathers and grandparents. |
| Clarke claimed at one point that he only knew some details of the crash from newspaper reports. Thomson appeared to lose her patience: “You do know that these families have been in court to hear answers? Did you know that?” | Clarke claimed at one point that he only knew some details of the crash from newspaper reports. Thomson appeared to lose her patience: “You do know that these families have been in court to hear answers? Did you know that?” |
| She was interrupted by objections from Clarke’s lawyers, but again pressed him. She asked: “Do you understand by your decision not to answer that you’re putting yourself first?” | She was interrupted by objections from Clarke’s lawyers, but again pressed him. She asked: “Do you understand by your decision not to answer that you’re putting yourself first?” |
| A nine-page list of doctors’ appointments and hospital visits included details about consultations in April 2010, before he fainted at the wheel of a stationary First bus, and a long absence for ill-health in March and April 2010. He then resigned from First on 1 January 2011 after facing disciplinary charges for repeatedly arriving at bus stops early. | |
| Although he admitted his mother had died of a heart attack, and agreed that, aged one, he was treated for wax in his ears, Clarke refused dozens of times to answer questions on his own medical history. He said: “I don’t wish to answer that.” | Although he admitted his mother had died of a heart attack, and agreed that, aged one, he was treated for wax in his ears, Clarke refused dozens of times to answer questions on his own medical history. He said: “I don’t wish to answer that.” |
| Clarke’s medical history – and his alleged failure to disclose his repeated fainting fits and dizziness to his employers, their medical advisers and the DVLA – has become central to the inquiry after Scotland’s prosecutors controversially decided not to prosecute him. | Clarke’s medical history – and his alleged failure to disclose his repeated fainting fits and dizziness to his employers, their medical advisers and the DVLA – has become central to the inquiry after Scotland’s prosecutors controversially decided not to prosecute him. |
| Lawyers for the families of two victims, Jacqueline Morton and Stephenie Tait, confirmed on Thursday to Sheriff John Beckett QC, presiding, that they planned to seek a private prosecution of Clarke after the inquiry. | Lawyers for the families of two victims, Jacqueline Morton and Stephenie Tait, confirmed on Thursday to Sheriff John Beckett QC, presiding, that they planned to seek a private prosecution of Clarke after the inquiry. |
| Beckett refused a Tait family motion to adjourn the inquiry for at least three months to allow them to pursue a private case before Clarke gave evidence, and said Clarke could be warned he was only obliged to confirm his name and age to avoid self-incrimination. | Beckett refused a Tait family motion to adjourn the inquiry for at least three months to allow them to pursue a private case before Clarke gave evidence, and said Clarke could be warned he was only obliged to confirm his name and age to avoid self-incrimination. |
| He told the court he was able to establish key facts and infer conclusions about his medical history and conduct from the evidence already disclosed to the inquiry, regardless of Clarke’s decision to refuse to answer key questions. | He told the court he was able to establish key facts and infer conclusions about his medical history and conduct from the evidence already disclosed to the inquiry, regardless of Clarke’s decision to refuse to answer key questions. |
| But he warned the families and public in court not to react angrily to his evidence or refusal to give complete testimony. Beckett said: “No matter how emotionally affecting this might be, the court needs to conduct itself in an orderly fashion.” | But he warned the families and public in court not to react angrily to his evidence or refusal to give complete testimony. Beckett said: “No matter how emotionally affecting this might be, the court needs to conduct itself in an orderly fashion.” |