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Glasgow bin lorry crash driver's references 'seen' by council Glasgow bin lorry crash driver had 'dizziness for decades'
(about 4 hours later)
The Glasgow bin lorry inquiry into the deaths of six people has heard that the driver Harry Clarke had satisfactory references - but they cannot be found. The Glasgow bin lorry inquiry into the deaths of six people has heard the driver Harry Clarke suffered episodes of dizziness and fainting for decades.
Glasgow City Council human resources manager Geraldine Ham said there were no references on Mr Clarke's file. Mr Clarke, 58, was unconscious when the bin lorry veered out of control and hit pedestrians on 22 December 2014.
But she told the inquiry that an email from 2011 stated an interviewer was satisfied with his references. The inquiry has now heard he reported bouts of dizziness in 1976, fainted at work while a lorry driver in 1989 and suffered dizziness for months in 1994.
Mr Clarke, 58, was unconscious when the bin lorry veered out of control in central Glasgow on 22 December 2014. His own GP was unaware he allegedly fainted at the wheel of a bus in 2010.
Six pedestrians were killed and 15 others injured when the vehicle mounted the pavement and careered along Queen Street and George Square before crashing into the Millennium Hotel outside Queen Street station. The eighth day of the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI), which is being overseen by Sheriff John Beckett QC at Glasgow Sheriff Court, has been hearing more details of Mr Clarke's medical history.
The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the tragedy is being overseen by Sheriff John Beckett QC at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Not disclosed
Personnel file The inquiry has previously heard that he allegedly suffered a blackout at the wheel of a First Bus vehicle on 7 April 2010 and that this information was not disclosed by Mr Clarke when he joined Glasgow City Council in 2011.
The FAI earlier heard that Mr Clarke was suspended from his previous employer, First Bus, on 28 December 2010 and started work with Glasgow City Council on 5 January 2011. During cross-examination of Glasgow City Council human resources manager Geraldine Ham, it emerged that Mr Clarke's own GP was unaware that he allegedly passed out at the wheel of a bus.
It was also told that the council could not locate any references from Mr Clarke's previous employers on his personnel file. Dorothy Bain QC, who is representing the bereaved Morton family, produced records of Mr Clarke's appointment with Dr Gerard McKaig at Baillieston Health Centre.
Ms Ham gave her second day of evidence on Friday - the eighth day of the inquiry. These stated that Mr Clarke told his GP he had lost consciousness at the First Bus depot canteen. They make no mention of fainting at the wheel of a bus.
She said the council takes up references to check on candidates but none were held in Mr Clarke's file. Mr Clarke is reported as saying that he was in a hot environment in the canteen and that he felt slightly disorientated for a short period and was then fine. There were no warning signs.
The form sent to referees asks about the employment dates, sickness in the previous two years, "live disciplinary actions" and the reason for leaving. The medical notes said that paramedics attended and Mr Clarke was advised the incident was "vasovagal" - a heart-related condition that can cause fainting.
Ms Ham said that while she could not locate references for Mr Clarke, she had identified an email which confirmed that a job interviewer was satisfied with the content of all the references sought - including those of Mr Clarke. Ms Bain also brought forward medical information which stated that Mr Clarke reported episodes of dizziness in 1976.
She told the inquiry that the email was sent on 25 March 2011, three months after the driver was employed, and references were "signed off" after Mr Clarke had started work at council. His records show a vasovagal (fainting) attack in 1989 at work, when he was employed by Tennent Caledonian Breweries as a lorry driver.
Health form Recurring dizziness
Earlier, Ms Ham told the FAI that Mr Clarke had filled out a medical questionnaire as part of his application, but this could not be found. In 1987, when he was working as a bus driver, he sought a medical note because of a nervous condition.
A blank form was shown to the court. It included "yes/no checkboxes" which asked about various conditions such as "dizziness and light-headedness", "stress or anxiety" and "heart diseases". In 1994 he reported recurring dizziness over an 18-month period to his GP.
The FAI was also shown a Bupa report on Mr Clarke, dated December 2010, in which he declared one period of sickness, totalling seven days, in the previous two years. The FAI heard that he was told not to drive in 2003 as he was complaining of dizziness. It is understood that he was working as an oil tanker driver at this time.
The medical notes also show that he was off work with stress in November 2009.
In total, he made 26 visits to his GP between 1976 and 2009.
Ms Ham told the inquiry that the council was unaware of any of this medical history.
Ms Bain put it to Ms Ham: "On analysis, the bond of trust between the council and Mr Clarke is non-existent. He should never have been employed by council."
Ms Ham agrees that Mr Clarke would never have been employed by the council if he had told the truth about his medical history on his application form and medical declarations.
The witness also agreed with Ms Bain's assertion that six people would not have died and no-one would be at the inquiry if Mr Clarke had told the truth.
References 'satisfactory'
Earlier, the FAI heard that Mr Clarke was suspended from his previous employer, First Bus, on 28 December 2010 and started work with Glasgow City Council on 5 January 2011.
Mr Clarke's First Bus employee exit form stated that there were no issues with his attendance, performance or conduct and he was suitable for re-engagement with the company.
The inquiry was also told that the council could not locate any references from Mr Clarke's previous employers on his personnel file but an email was located stating that the authority was "satisfied" with the references given.
The FAI heard that Mr Clarke had filled out a medical questionnaire as part of his application to the council, but this could not be found either.
In a health assessment for the council in 2010 he declared one period of sickness, totalling seven days, in the previous two years.
The court heard that his First Bus employment record showed a total of 33 days absence in the previous two years.The court heard that his First Bus employment record showed a total of 33 days absence in the previous two years.
Ms Ham told the inquiry that if the council had known of Mr Clarke's sickness history, it would have been taken into account in his job application. Ms Ham told the inquiry that withholding relevant information could have led to a job offer being withdrawn.
The FAI also heard that Mr Clarke received a letter from First Bus, 29 December 2010, stating that he was suspended on full pay and was required to attend a suspension/disciplinary hearing on 31 December 2010. Six pedestrians were killed and 15 others injured when the bin lorry mounted the pavement and careered along Queen Street and George Square before crashing into the Millennium Hotel outside Queen Street station.
He offered his resignation to First Bus on 28 December 2010. Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, died in the incident.
The FAI was told that Mr Clarke's First Bus employee exit form stated that there were no issues with his attendance, performance or conduct and he was suitable for re-engagement with the company. Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed.
Alleged fainting
Ms Ham said that Mr Clarke's suspension from First Bus, which the council was unaware of, would "not necessarily" have prevented him from being hired.
But she said that withholding relevant information could have led to the job offer being withdrawn.
The witness also confirmed that the council did not know about an alleged fainting episode involving Mr Clarke in April 2010, which was diagnosed as a "vasovagal episode".
She said nothing about this incident was mentioned in any of the council health assessments or questionnaires that he had completed.
Ms Ham said the council would have ordered further medical inquiries if it had known.
Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, died in the incident in the city's Queen Street and George Square.
Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed when the truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel.
A further 15 people were injured.
The Crown Office has already concluded that there will be no criminal prosecution over the crash, with senior lawyers deeming it a "tragic accident".The Crown Office has already concluded that there will be no criminal prosecution over the crash, with senior lawyers deeming it a "tragic accident".