Families of crash victims in private prosecution bid
FAMILIES of victims of two separate road crashes, which left eight people dead, have attended a court hearing as they seek to bring historic private prosecutions against the drivers involved.
Relatives of members of the Sweeney and McQuade families, who died in a bin lorry crash in Glasgow in December 2014, and the families of two students killed in an earlier car crash in the city, were at the Court of Session in Edinburgh to hear legal arguments.
Lawyers acting for the families of Jack and Lorraine Sweeney, aged 68 and 69, and their granddaughter Erin McQuade, 18, are pursuing a private prosecution against Harry Clarke, who lost consciousness while driving the council bin lorry on December 22 2014.
The vehicle veered out of control, killing six pedestrians in Queen Street and George Square.
Stephenie Tait, 29, Jacqueline Morton, 51, and Gillian Ewing, 52, also died in the incident.
Judges are also considering a similar application to prosecute William Payne, lodged by the families of friends Mhairi Convy, 18, and Laura Stewart, 20, who were knocked down and killed in North Hanover Street in Glasgow in December 2010 by a Range Rover driven by William Payne.
Mr Payne also lost consciousness at the wheel.
Ms Convy, of Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, and Ms Stewart, of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, had been heading to do some Christmas shopping when the accident happened.
The Crown ruled against prosecutions against both men, leading the families to seek permission from the Court of Session to pursue private prosecutions instead.
The hearing is being held before the second highest judge in Scotland, the Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorian, Lord Menzies and Lord Drummond Young.
Due to legal restrictions, proceedings cannot be reported. They were adjourned until tomorrow.
The judges’ decision on whether to grant private prosecutions is expected in the coming weeks.