Glasgow bin lorry crash: City Council suspends driver that crashed killing six in Scottish city

The Inquiry into the accident continues

Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @BMol14loy of the scene in Glasgow's George Square after a it is understood a bin lorry has crashed into a group of pedestrians. (PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo)

The driver of the refuse lorry that crashed in Glasgow City Centre has been suspended from his work for the local authority.

Harry Clarke was at the wheel of the bin lorry in December last year, when the fatal incident took six lives.

This move comes after a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) that is taking place into the tragedy was told that Mr Clarke did not disclose his medical history when completing a health questionnaire when he applied to work for the council.

Medical records read out at the inquiry documented around 30 instances starting in June 1976 when he had seen a doctor due to issues including dizziness, vertigo, anxiety and nervousness.

There were also two cases of "vasovagal" recorded, one in 1989 when Mr Clarke worked for Tennent Caledonian Breweries and another in 2010 when he worked for First Bus, the inquiry heard.

Emergency services attend the scene in George Square in Glasgow, Scotland after it is understood a bin lorry crashed into a group of pedestrians (AP Photo/Danny Lawson/PA)

Geraldine Ham, a human resources manager at the council, said in evidence last week that the authority was not made aware of any health conditions during Mr Clarke's recruitment.

Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for Glasgow City Council confirmed that it has suspended Mr Harry Clarke "on a precautionary basis" pending a full disciplinary investigation.

"A number of allegations have been made during the enquiry in regard to Mr Clarke’s conduct before and at the point where he commenced employment with the council.

"These allegations have yet to be put to Mr Clarke and he has not yet had the opportunity to respond to them. The internal investigation will therefore take place at the conclusion of the FAI.”

Mr Clarke, 58, reportedly appeared to lose consciousness when the council bin lorry went out of control three days before Christmas in Glasgow city centre last year.

Stephenie Tait and Gillian Ewing were among the six people killed when the bin lorry lost control (PA)

Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were amongst those who tragically died. Another 15 people were injured, in the accident that left the Scottish capital shaken.

The inquiry has already heard from witnesses that Mr Clarke had suffered a "blackout" at the wheel of a bus in April 2010while he worked with First Bus, but a doctor's note shown to the witness today read that Mr Clarke said he had lost consciousness for five seconds in his work canteen rather than when driving the vehicle.

Geraldine Ham, a human resources manager at the council, said in evidence last week that the authority was not made aware of any health conditions during Mr Clarke's recruitment.

The Inquiry continues in Glasgow.