Judges to decide on bin lorry driver prosecution

Judges examining a bid to bring a private prosecution against Glasgow bin lorry crash driver Harry Clarke have retired to consider their decision.

A hearing before Scotland’s second highest judge, Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian, and Lord Menzies and Lord Drummond Young ended yesterday in Edinburgh.

They will issue a written decision on the future of the case at a later date.

Mr Clarke was driving the bin lorry when it went out of control in Queen Street in December 2014. Six people were killed.

The family of crash victims Jack and Lorraine Sweeney and their granddaughter Erin Mcquade are pursuing the court bid, which follows a previous Crown Office decision not to prosecute Mr Clarke, who had blacked out behind the wheel.

Stephenie Tait, Jacqueline Morton and Gillian Ewing also died in the incident.

The judges are also considering a similar application to prosecute William Payne, lodged by the families of students Mhairi Convy and Laura Stewart, who were knocked down and killed in Glasgow in 2010.

A number of relatives of the victims attended the Appeal Court but details of the hearing cannot be reported for legal reasons.