'No-one To Be Prosecuted' After Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash
No-one will be prosecuted over the fatal Glasgow bin lorry crash just before Christmas. Six people died when the truck careered out of control into pedestrians. It later emerged the driver - 58 year-old Harry Clarke - collapsed at the steering wheel.
A police report on the investigation was received by the Crown Office on 29th January.
The Police report has now been carefully considered by Crown Counsel - the most senior lawyers within the Crown Office.
A statement from the Crown Office said: "Crown Counsel have concluded that the driver of the lorry should not be prosecuted in respect of this tragic incident."
"Despite its catastrophic consequences there is no evidence to suggest that the driver’s conduct at the time amounted to a breach of the criminal law."
"There is no evidence to support a prosecution of Glasgow City Council in respect of any Health and Safety concerns breaches in Health and Safety law."
"Crown Counsel have decided that a Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held into the causes of this tragedy to ensure that there can be a full public hearing of the facts of the case".
"The Crown Office will petition the court within two weeks of today’s decision to hold an FAI to ensure that the inquiry is held as soon as possible."
"The specialist Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU) within Crown Office has been responsible for overseeing the investigation into the deaths which occurred as a result of the Glasgow bin lorry incident."
"David Green, Head of SFIU will now lead the preparation for the FAI. He will liaise with the families of those involved to keep them fully informed and answer any questions they may have about the process in the run up to or during the FAI."
"A Fatal Accident inquiry is held into cases where a death or deaths were sudden, suspicious, or unexplained or occurred in circumstances such as to give rise to serious public concern and where it appears to the Lord Advocate to be appropriate that an Inquiry should be held into the circumstances."
"The next of kin of those who died in the incident have been informed of the decision not to bring a prosecution but to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry to determine the cause of the crash and establish what lessons can be learned from this tragic incident."