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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Glasgow bin lorry crash: Driver 'told pack of lies' | Glasgow bin lorry crash: Driver 'told pack of lies' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The driver of a Glasgow bin lorry which crashed, killing six people, has been accused of telling "a pack of lies" about his history of blackouts. | The driver of a Glasgow bin lorry which crashed, killing six people, has been accused of telling "a pack of lies" about his history of blackouts. |
| Harry Clarke, 58, is being questioned for a second day at the inquiry into the crash on 22 December last year. | Harry Clarke, 58, is being questioned for a second day at the inquiry into the crash on 22 December last year. |
| Dorothy Bain QC said he should never have been driving and accused him of showing "reckless indifference" by not disclosing earlier fainting episodes. | Dorothy Bain QC said he should never have been driving and accused him of showing "reckless indifference" by not disclosing earlier fainting episodes. |
| She said his attitude was one of: "I'm all right Jack". The inquiry continues. | She said his attitude was one of: "I'm all right Jack". The inquiry continues. |
| The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) at Glasgow Sheriff Court is looking at Mr Clarke's health, the bin lorry and its route. | The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) at Glasgow Sheriff Court is looking at Mr Clarke's health, the bin lorry and its route. |
| Private prosecution | Private prosecution |
| The inquiry has already heard that Mr Clarke was unconscious at the wheel of the Glasgow City Council bin lorry when it veered out of control on Queen Street, killing six people and injuring 15 others. | The inquiry has already heard that Mr Clarke was unconscious at the wheel of the Glasgow City Council bin lorry when it veered out of control on Queen Street, killing six people and injuring 15 others. |
| It has also heard that he suffered an earlier blackout at the wheel of a stationary bus in 2010 when he worked for First Bus as a driver. | |
| This episode, and his history of dizziness and other ailments, were not disclosed to Glasgow City Council and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). | This episode, and his history of dizziness and other ailments, were not disclosed to Glasgow City Council and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). |
| Mr Clarke has been told he does not have to answer questions put to him about his medical history as he may face a private prosecution brought by two of the bereaved families. | Mr Clarke has been told he does not have to answer questions put to him about his medical history as he may face a private prosecution brought by two of the bereaved families. |
| In his second day of evidence, Mr Clarke was cross-examined by Ms Bain, who is acting for the bereaved Morton family. | In his second day of evidence, Mr Clarke was cross-examined by Ms Bain, who is acting for the bereaved Morton family. |
| After he refused to answer questions relating to his medical history, the QC asked if he would like witnesses to tell the truth if his own daughter had died. | After he refused to answer questions relating to his medical history, the QC asked if he would like witnesses to tell the truth if his own daughter had died. |
| Mr Clarke refused to answer. | Mr Clarke refused to answer. |
| Ms Bain said the six victims would still be alive if he had been honest about his medical past because he would never have been given jobs as a driver. | Ms Bain said the six victims would still be alive if he had been honest about his medical past because he would never have been given jobs as a driver. |
| 'Beyond belief' | 'Beyond belief' |
| "You should never have been behind the wheel and you knew that," she told the witness. | "You should never have been behind the wheel and you knew that," she told the witness. |
| "You took a chance and it has taken the lives of six people. The difference is you had a choice." | "You took a chance and it has taken the lives of six people. The difference is you had a choice." |
| Ms Bain said the phrase "I'm all right Jack", summed up Mr Clarke's attitude. | Ms Bain said the phrase "I'm all right Jack", summed up Mr Clarke's attitude. |
| The QC said that it was "incredible and beyond belief" that following the bin lorry tragedy, Mr Clarke had pursued getting his licence back. | The QC said that it was "incredible and beyond belief" that following the bin lorry tragedy, Mr Clarke had pursued getting his licence back. |
| She ended her cross-examination by saying that if Mr Clarke "had told the truth all this could have been prevented". | She ended her cross-examination by saying that if Mr Clarke "had told the truth all this could have been prevented". |
| Mr Clarke was then cross-examined by Mark Stewart QC, representing the bereaved McQuade family. | |
| The witness again refused to answer any questions about his medical history. | |
| The QC asked him to "take the risk" of answering questions but the witness said he did not want to answer. | |
| Ronald Conway, the QC for the bereaved Tait family was next to cross-examine Mr Clarke. | |
| He said the clocks stopped for the Tait family on 22 December last year but they would not take part in a private prosecution and only wanted "to ensure this does not happen again". | |
| The QC said: "No-one else has to face up to the truth of this matter except you. You cannot say no comment to your own heart can you Mr Clarke?" | |
| 'Desperate situations' | |
| Mr Conway questioned Mr Clarke about the 2010 fainting incident when he was a bus driver. The witness again refused to answer. | |
| Mr Conway said that if he had not been challenged by an inspector, who attended the scene having been notified by a passenger, Mr Clarke would have just driven on and not mentioned it. | |
| The witness did not comment. | |
| The QC then noted that Mr Clarke got a doctors appointment that day, adding "desperate situations require desperate remedies". | |
| Referring to earlier evidence where it was said Mr Clarke had told his doctor he fainted in the First Bus canteen, Mr Conway said: "You span the doctor a line about queuing in a hot canteen." | |
| "You then told the occupational doctor at work that your own doctor said you were fit to drive. | |
| "You could not believe your luck when you got away with it, could you?" | |
| Again the witness did not answer. | |
| The QC went on: "Just another little white lie for you. No harm done." | |
| Mr Conway said that after Mr Clarke left First Bus and got a job with Glasgow City Council "2010 receded into history". | |
| 'Big black lie' | |
| "You pretended it never happened," he told the witness, before adding: "The past has a way of catching up with all of us." | |
| The QC asserted that Mr Clarke has a "high susceptibility" to fainting. | |
| Alluding to the consequences of Mr Clarke not disclosing this, the QC said: "The little white lie of April 2010 is actually a big black lie." | |
| The QC concluded his cross-examination by saying that if Mr Clarke had told the truth he would never have been behind the wheel of the bin lorry. | |
| He said he took the view that Mr Clarke was "not a criminal mastermind" but that "he waltzed through every checkpoint with impunity" and the system for checking this was "full of holes". | |
| With his evidence to the FAI concluded, Mr Clarke left the witness stand. | |
| The inquiry continues. | The inquiry continues. |