Should this man be prosecuted?

[boatbuilder]

The Crown Office has already said there will be no criminal prosecution over the crash, with senior lawyers deeming it a "tragic accident".

The above quote is from today's BBC report on the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Glasgow bin lorry crash last December which claimed 6 lives and injured 15. Virtually the same statement is included with every BBC report that I have read since the start of the inquiry.

In the light of the deception (if that's the right word to use) by the driver of the vehicle which seems to be apparent from the evidence being presented to the inquiry, I don't see how the families of the victims can think justice is being done for their loved ones under the circumstances if nobody is prosecuted. What do you think?

This is today's report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-g ... t-33802543

[Mel]

In my opinion the driver of the bin lorry is as guilty as hell for not disclosing his medical history of blackouts and fainting when applying for the job with the council. The council are to blame for not having a more stringent vetting policy when employing staff (they took his word on his application forms about his medical condition). If the driver does not get prosecuted by the courts, hopefully his conscience will punish him every day for the loss of life of those poor pedestrians.

[morty1753]

It seems to me that the Crown Office Lawyers were also lax in their investigation if they put it down to a "tragic accident".

It will be interesting to see if there is a change of view once the Fatal Accident Inquiry reports its findings, or even a private prosecution from the relatives of those killed and injured.

[nikkai]

I hope there is some action from the families, I see this man driving again and there is the risk that he could "faint" again and what will the result of that be?
I did have a HGV 1/ PSV licence though seldom used it, when I had a heart attack (while at sea) MY GP informed DVLA and my HGV /PSV licence was suspended, I know we are in a different country to Scotland but our driving laws are the same and if you have any defect which would be recorded in your medical for driving then this should be there (or) has he lied there as well.

[morty1753]

The article states that he did not inform DVLA, his employers or the doctors of his history of fainting, so yes, he has lied all the way through.

He even denied he had previously suffered faints after this incident.

[nikkai]

He has to sit (do) a medical for his licence and the medical has that very question about fainting etc so he should LOOSE his driving LGV entitlement and then be prosecuted
IN MY OPINION

[morty1753]

And I won't disagree with you on that one.

[seagull]

I feel sorry for the doctors.
I wonder if he had epilepsy untreated well he stupid man if that is so...This difficult ethical and moral question but I know if I a parent I would want someone to answer for it

[frankiesays]

Resurrecting this thread due to the recent court hearings concerning this accident. As the driver had clearly lied through his teeth to get a driving job for which he was not fit to carry out safely, he was driving illegally and the very type of accident which may have been a worst-case scenario in the back of his mind actually happened. He should be prosecuted but I doubt the punishment would be great enough to satisfy the relatives of the injured and dead. He would probably be punished for the way in which he managed to get a driving job as opposed to the deaths he caused as a consequence of it.