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Glasgow bin lorry crash: DVLA will not bring charges against driver Glasgow bin lorry crash: DVLA will not bring charges against driver
(34 minutes later)
The DVLA appears to have closed the door on any criminal charges being brought against the driver of a bin lorry that crashed in Glasgow city centre, killing six people, after the licensing body’s lawyer told an inquiry that it would not seek to prosecute him. The driver of a bin lorry that crashed in Glasgow, killing six people, will not face any criminal charges after the DVLA said it would not seek to prosecute him.
The lorry driven by Harry Clarke, 58, lost control on 22 December last year, ploughing into pedestrians; witnesses reported that Clarke appeared to lose consciousness at the wheel. Harry Clarke, 58, lost control of the lorry in the city centre on 22 December last year, ploughing into pedestrians; witnesses reported that he appeared to lose consciousness at the wheel.
On Wednesday, the solicitor general Lesley Thomson QC, told the fatal accident inquiry looking into the deaths that the Crown Office will not be prosecuting Clarke. But the inquiry later heard that a prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service south of the border on behalf of the DVLA for failing to disclose his medical history was “under consideration”. On Wednesday, the solicitor general Lesley Thomson QC, told the fatal accident inquiry looking into the deaths that the Crown Office in Scotland would not be prosecuting Clarke. But the inquiry later heard that a prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service in England on behalf of the DVLA for Clarke’s failure to disclose his medical history was under consideration.
However, on Thursday, Rhoderick McIlvride QC, for the DVLA, told Sheriff John Beckett that the DVLA “recognises that this is a matter for the Crown Office and … will not be taking the issue any further.” However, on Thursday, Rhoderick McIlvride QC, for the licensing body, told Sheriff John Beckett the DVLA “recognises that this is a matter for the Crown Office and … will not be taking the issue any further”.
The inquiry, at Glasgow sheriff court, has already heard that Clarke has a history of health issues including fainting, dizziness and stress dating back to the 1970s and that he failed to disclose his health history to the DVLA and on job application forms. The inquiry, at Glasgow sheriff court, had heard that Clarke has a history of health issues, including fainting, dizziness and stress, dating back to the 1970s and that he failed to disclose this to the DVLA and on job application forms.
On Wednesday Becket heard that when someone applies for a Group 2 or LGV licence, there is no system of cross-checking what the applicant says with their GP history. On Wednesday Beckett heard that when someone applies for a Group 2 or LGV licence, there is no system to cross-check what the applicant says against their medical history.
Solicitor advocate Ronald Conway, representing the family of victim Stephenie Tait, asked Dr Gareth Parry, a senior medical adviser for the DVLA, whether the system was “open to abuse”. Parry agreed that it was. The solicitor advocate Ronald Conway, representing the family of victim Stephenie Tait, asked Dr Gareth Parry, a senior medical adviser for the DVLA, whether the system was open to abuse. Parry agreed that it was.
Conway also asked: “Particularly in the context of Group 2 licences, the current system exposes applicants to a huge level of temptation?”Conway also asked: “Particularly in the context of Group 2 licences, the current system exposes applicants to a huge level of temptation?”
Parry replied: “Yes, I think there is an opportunity for that.”Parry replied: “Yes, I think there is an opportunity for that.”
The inquiry heard that GPs are not obliged to notify the DVLA if they tell a patient they are not fit to drive. The inquiry heard that GPs were not obliged to notify the DVLA if they told a patient they were not fit to drive.
Conway also referred to the DVLA at-a-glance guide for medical practitioners dated November 2014, which gives advice on assessing a patient’s fitness to drive. He said: “I’m suggesting to you that in particular this document in its 2014 format lets down health practitioners and in particular GPs.” Conway also referred to the DVLA at-a-glance guide for medical practitioners dated November 2014, which gives advice on assessing a patient’s fitness to drive. He said to Parry: “I’m suggesting to you that, in particular, this document in its 2014 format lets down health practitioners and, in particular, GPs.”
Parry said: “I would not disagree that the guidelines could be looked at.” Parry replied: “I would not disagree that the guidelines could be looked at.”
The inquiry also heard that Clarke did not disclose his full medical history when he applied for his licence to be reinstated in the spring of 2015. It has previously been told that he fainted at the wheel of a bus in April 2010. In the medical declaration section of the application for the renewal of his licence, Clarke ticked a box indicating that he had had a fit or blackout. The inquiry heard that Clarke did not disclose his full medical history when he applied for his licence to be reinstated in the spring of 2015, four months after the crash. It had previously been told that he fainted at the wheel of a bus in April 2010. In the medical declaration section of the application for the renewal of his licence, Clarke ticked a box indicating that he had had a fit or blackout. The form then asked whether he told the DVLA about this condition before, to which he said: “Yes.”
The form then asked whether he told the DVLA about this condition before, to which he said: “Yes.” But Parry told the court: “There is no indication that we were told about it.”
However, Parry told the court: “There is no indication that we were told about it.”
Conway said: “There are details of blackout or altered level of consciousness on 22 December 2014. On the face of it, there has been no declaration of the April 2010 event.” Parry replied: “No there has not.”Conway said: “There are details of blackout or altered level of consciousness on 22 December 2014. On the face of it, there has been no declaration of the April 2010 event.” Parry replied: “No there has not.”
Clarke’s licence was reinstated in April 2015 but revoked in June.Clarke’s licence was reinstated in April 2015 but revoked in June.
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.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.
Ms 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 into the side of the Millennium Hotel. Ms 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 towards George Square before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel.