Heartache of family caught up in avoidable lorry tragedy
GRIEVING relatives of bin lorry victim Jacqueline Morton yesterday told of their heartache over the ‘avoidable tragedy’ and called for action to ensure that no other family ever has to endure a similar ordeal.
The 51-year-old, from Glasgow, was one of six people killed when the truck veered out of control in the city centre after Harry Clarke blacked out at the wheel.
Following yesterday’s FAI determination, David Wilson a partner with Digby Brown Solicitors, representing the Morton family, said: ‘The determination confirms so much of what the Morton family and others have known for some time.
‘This was an avoidable tragedy. Harry Clarke is not an evil person but he did a series of bad things which led to a tragedy.
‘The determination has concluded that Mr Clarke, over a number of years, quite deliberately and repeatedly chose not to tell the truth to his doctor, to his employers and to the DVLA.
‘He deliberately manipulated the system to keep his driving licence.
‘He must have known that he was taking the risk not only with his own life but with the lives of his passengers and pedestrians.
‘Had he not chosen to lie, he would not have got a job with Glasgow City Council and this tragedy would not have happened. He will have to live with this for the rest of his life.’
The Morton family said they wanted lessons to be learned because Mr Clarke was ‘not unique’, and an ‘unquantifiable number of drivers... are ignoring the advice of their doctors and taking the risk with their own life and the lives of others every time they get behind the wheel’.
Mr Wilson continued: ‘The Morton family strongly believe that, unless action is taken, more families will have to endure what the Mortons and all the families affected by the crash have suffered since December 22 last year, and will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives. These families’ lives changed forever that day. No other family should suffer in the same way.’
The family want a system in which only doctors who have access to relevant medical records are able to declare drivers fit to drive.
Mr Wilson said: ‘It is obvious that a system based on the willingness of drivers to declare the truth must be backed up by sanctions for those who fail to do so. Without a deterrent there will be a significant number of drivers who will be prepared to make a false declaration.
‘Parliament has enshrined sanctions in law to protect public safety. It is up to the Crown Office to enforce them.
‘Sheriff Beckett has conducted a difficult and emotive process with compassion and we place on our record our gratitude to him.’
In a BBC documentary called Lies, Laws and the Bin Lorry Tragedy, which aired last month, Miss Morton’s son Adam Russell was among the victims’ relatives who spoke of the devastating effect on their lives.
He said: ‘I just keep on thinking that one day I’m going to take my two girls up to see their granny Jackie at the grave and they’re going to turn round and go “What did happen to granny, daddy?”
‘I’m just going to say, “Granny lost her life because a man lied”.’
Miss Morton’s relatives have said that they will pursue a private prosecution.
The family of victim Stephenie Tait, 29, said, in a statement released last night: ‘The duty on the driver to self report is at the heart of the system, and whilst that remains the public are not properly protected.’
‘He did a series of bad things’