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Glasgow bin lorry crash inquiry hears of faults in recruitment process for drivers Glasgow bin lorry crash inquiry hears of faults in recruitment process for drivers
(about 5 hours later)
An inquiry into a bin lorry crash which claimed the lives of six people has heard claims there were “significant shortcomings” in the council’s recruitment procedures at the time the driver got his first job at the authority. An inquiry into a bin lorry crash that claimed the lives of six people has heard claims there were “significant shortcomings” in the council’s recruitment procedures at the time the driver got his first job at the authority.
Harry Clarke, 58, was driving the council truck in Glasgow city centre on 22 December when it went out of control, with witnesses reporting that he appeared to lose consciousness at the wheel. A witness agreed with the suggestion from lawyer Peter Gray QC that the driver broke a “bond of trust” with his employer by deliberately failing to disclose his medical history as the inquiry into the Glasgow tragedy entered its third week at the city’s sheriff court.
A fatal accident inquiry looking into the tragedy has already heard that Clarke had a history of health issues, including fainting, dizziness and stress, dating back to the 1970s. It has been told that he did not disclose his medical history when completing a health questionnaire as part of his job application to be a school bus driver for Glasgow city council in 2010. Related: Glasgow bin lorry crash inquiry to assess driver's medical history
Dorothy Bain QC, representing the family of one of the crash victims, questioned Geraldine Ham, a human resources manager at the council, as the inquiry entered its third week. Harry Clarke, 58, was driving the council truck in Glasgow city centre on 22 December last year when it lost control, with witnesses reporting that Clarke appeared to lose consciousness at the wheel.
Talking the witness through various employment documents, Bain said: “At the stage that Mr Clarke was employed by the council to transport children with special needs, we can see significant shortcomings in the council process for recruitment.” The inquiry looking into the tragedy had already heard that Clarke had a history of health issues including fainting, dizziness and stress dating back to the 1970s.
It had been told he did not disclose his medical history on various occasions, including when he completed a health questionnaire as part of his job application to be a school bus driver for Glasgow city council in 2010.
Gray, representing the local authority, cross-questioned Geraldine Ham, a human resources manager at the council, as she gave evidence to the inquiry for a third day.
He put it to Ham that for a recruitment process to work effectively, the would-be employee had to provide “honest and accurate” information, and the references given to the employer must be similarly accurate.
Referring to Clarke, the lawyer said: “In a number of occasions and a number of material respects, he was not truthful about his medical history, is that correct?” Ham agreed.
“On one view, would you agree that it would appear that the lack of candour appeared to be deliberate?”
“Yes,” she replied.
Gray continued: “The bond of trust so important between employer and employee – if it’s accepted, what is contained in the medical records – has been fundamentally broken between the council and Mr Clarke. That must be a possibility, isn’t it?”
Ham agreed.
Earlier, the inquiry heard claims that there were “significant shortcomings” in the council’s recruitment procedures at the time the driver got his first job at the authority.
Dorothy Bain QC, representing the family of crash victim Jacqueline Morton, talkedHam through various employment documents and put it to her: “At the stage that Mr Clarke was employed by the council to transport children with special needs, we can see significant shortcomings in the council process for recruitment.”
Ham said the local authority tried to ensure that the necessary employment processes were in place.Ham said the local authority tried to ensure that the necessary employment processes were in place.
Bain said the inquiry has seen that where Clarke “didn’t tell the council the truth, the recruitment process was not adequate in order to prevent his employment”. The witness agreed. Bain said the inquiry had seen that where Clarke “doesn’t tell the council the truth, the recruitment process was not adequate in order to prevent his employment”.
Bain said: “For that reason you would agree, I presume, that the recruitment process wasn’t adequate?” When Ham agreed, the lawyer continued: “For that reason you would agree, I presume, that the recruitment process wasn’t adequate?”
Ham said: “There’s room for improvement, yes.” She also agreed that Clarke would not have been given the job if the council had received full disclosure of his medical history. Ham responded: “There’s room for improvement.”
Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and Lorraine Sweeney, 69, from Dumbarton died from multiple injuries after being hit by the truck. Another lawyer, Ronald Conway, representing the family of crash victim Stephenie Tait, said the inquiry would hear that Clarke was not a “monster of depravity or a criminal mastermind” but someone who “lied repeatedly to get a job and keep a job”. He added that “there are lots of Mr Clarkes out there”.
Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed as the lorry travelled out of control along Queen Street and towards George Square before crashing in to the side of the Millennium hotel. During questioning by advocate Paul Reid, representing Clarke, the inquiry heard how some of the issues for which Clarke had been disciplined at a previous bus-driving job centred around time-keeping or setting off in his bus a few minutes early. He also noted that Clarke returned to work earlier than anticipated after an absence over a health issue.
Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and Lorraine Sweeney, 69, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, died from multiple injuries after being hit by the truck.
Tait, 29, and Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed as the lorry travelled out of control along Queen Street and towards George Square before crashing into the side of the Millennium hotel.
The Crown Office ordered a fatal accident inquiry into the crash after prosecutors ruled there was no evidence to warrant criminal proceedings.The Crown Office ordered a fatal accident inquiry into the crash after prosecutors ruled there was no evidence to warrant criminal proceedings.
The inquiry continues.