Glasgow man admits driving bus full of kids through Bridge of Weir whilst drunk
A primary school bus driver is facing jail - for picking up and dropping off a coach full of children while drunk.
A primary school bus driver is facing jail - for picking up and dropping off a coach full of children while drunk.
Stephen McColgan picked the youngsters up from Bridge of Weir Primary School, in the Renfrewshire village of Bridge of Weir, on Friday afternoon.
It's understood the 52-year-old picked up the children at around 3pm from the school, which is in the village's Warlock Road.
He then went along his route and dropped all the children off - before being stopped by police in the village's Prieston Road a short time later. McColgan, of Paisley Road, Renfrew, near Glasgow, was breath tested by officers - and found to be nearly three-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit.
He was arrested and held in police custody for three nights before appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon. He was represented by defence solicitor Michael McKeown, a partner in law firm Callahan, McKeown & Co, during the short hearing, where he admitted his guilt.
He pleaded guilty to breaking Section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by driving his Volvo bus with 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath - when the limit is just 22mcg.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Colin Wilson began narrating the circumstances of the case in court, telling Sheriff David Pender that McColgan had been driving a school bus.
But Sheriff Pender cut him off, saying it was therefore a much more serious offence thank drink-driving in a car. Wilson, prosecuting, explained: "At around 3pm on Friday, September 9, the accused was seen driving a school bus near Bridge of Weir Primary School."
Sheriff Pender interjected: "I'll just stop you there, Mr Fiscal. "I'll be calling for a Criminal Justice Social Work Report." The sheriff then turned to McColgan's solicitor and said: "Your client was almost three-and-a-half times the limit.
"Being intoxicated in control of a motor vehicle is one thing - driving a school bus is quite a different matter."
He adjourned the case for the background report to be compiled, banned McColgan from driving, deferred sentence and released him on bail.
McColgan could be jailed for as long as 12 months when he returns to the dock in October to learn his fate.
The length of his driving ban will also be decided at his sentencing hearing.
Bridge of Weir Primary School has around 450 pupils.
The Head Teacher at the school, Mrs Carol Vallance, said she and her colleagues strive to help the development of their pupils.
In the welcome message for new parents on the school's website, she adds: "All of our staff hope that you will feel confident in leaving your children with us in the certain knowledge that we aim to help our pupils to become happy, well adjusted members of society.
"We aim to work in partnership with parents and ensure that every child is given the best opportunity to learn and progress."
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "Clearly, the safety of our pupils is of utmost importance to us.
"We have already spoken to our school transport contractors to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident." A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Around 3.15pm on Friday, September 9, police received a report of a bus driver being under the influence of alcohol in the Bridge of Weir area.
"Officers attended and a 52-year old-man was arrested and detained in police custody in connection with alleged road traffic offences."
An SPT spokesperson said:
"SPT was informed by Gibson Direct that one of its drivers had been arrested by Police Scotland on suspicion of drink driving when operating on a school contract. The company has subsequently confirmed that the individual in question has been dismissed.
“A full investigation is underway to determine the facts surrounding this incident paying particular emphasis to the bus company's internal procedures."