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Glasgow bin lorry crash victims remembered at service

Candles at special service to remember the victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash. Picture by Andrew Milligan, Press Association
Candles at special service to remember the victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash. Picture by Andrew Milligan, Press Association Candles at special service to remember the victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash. Picture by Andrew Milligan, Press Association

CANDLES were lit yesterday in memory of those who died in the Glasgow bin lorry crash, one year on from the tragedy.

A two-minute silence was held at a special commemorative service in Glasgow Cathedral, attended by bereaved families, injured survivors, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and members of the emergency services who helped at the scene of the crash on Queen Street on December 22 last year.

Seven candles were lit - one for each of the six victims and a seventh for all those injured and affected by the crash.

The names of each of the dead - Erin McQuade, Jack Sweeney, Lorraine Sweeney, Stephenie Tait, Jacqueline Morton and Gillian Ewing - were read out, before a relative or friend placed a candle on the altar beside flowers taken from tributes left in Royal Exchange Square in the days after the tragedy.

Organised by Glasgow Churches Together, the service was led by the Right Rev Dr Gregor Duncan, the Scottish Episcopal Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway.

Mr Duncan said: "What happened in Glasgow a year ago was an accident - we now know an accident waiting to happen, but still an accident.

"Pointless, meaningless, a consequence of human folly and irresponsibility."

The crash happened when bin lorry driver Harry Clarke lost consciousness behind the wheel and the truck careered out of control.

During an inquiry into the crash, it emerged Mr Clarke had a history of blackouts and faints which he had not disclosed to the DVLA, or when applying for the job at Glasgow City Council.

The sheriff who chaired the inquiry ruled the crash might have been avoided if Mr Clarke had told the truth about his medical history.

Henry Toal and Matthew Telford, the two crew men who were travelling in the bin lorry when it crashed, were among the hundreds of people at yesterday's memorial.