Glasgow bin lorry crash: A city falls silent
More than 1,000 mourners gathered and observed a two-minute silence in the city’s Royal Exchange Square yesterday afternoon, where the bin lorry first went out of control.
CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN
• Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdErin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and Lorraine Sweeney, 69, all from Dumbarton, were killed in the tragedy while Gillian Ewing, 52, of Edinburgh, Stephanie Tait, 19, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both of Glasgow, also died.
A 14-year-old girl, an 18-year-old woman and a 64-year-old woman remain in a stable condition in Glasgow Royal Infirmary following the crash last Monday.
The 57-year-old male driver of the lorry remains stable in the Western Infirmary – Glasgow City Council has announced that it “would never release” the names of the driver and his two colleagues who were in the cab when it crashed.
Vigil organiser David McCallum helped arrange the event after setting up a Facebook page in support of those affected.
He said: “Last year during the Clutha crash, I did something similar. I ended up getting unbelievable support from all over the world. Today we are here to remember the six people who died in the bin lorry crash.
“Everyone is showing support and wishing they could do more to help out.”
Meanwhile, a survivor of the horror crash has spoken for the first time about the tragedy that unfolded in George Square and Queen Street.
Retired charity sector worker Marie Weatherall, 64, was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping when she was knocked unconscious and her left arm and left leg broken.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnother female shopper, standing only feet away, was killed.
Her next memory is of waking up in an intensive care unit in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
She said: “It’s terrifying to think one minute I was out shopping and the next thing I knew I was in intensive care. While I am grateful for the amazing treatment I have had, my heart breaks for the families of those who lost their lives.”
Ms Weatherall added: “The slogan ‘People Make Glasgow’ is absolutely true and that’s why I love living here.
“All the hospital staff have cheered me up so much and this has made me so much better.”
Meanwhile, the partner of George Square victim Jacqueline Morton has revealed his heartbreaking grief in an emotional tribute to the mother-of-two.
John Connelly, 53, left a poignant note and flowers for his wife at the scene and made a vow to never let her grandchildren forget her.
The card, thought to have been left on Christmas Eve, reveals that he had taken Christmas gifts to Jacqueline’s grand-daughters.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt adds: “They are going to miss Grannie Jackie so much, but I promise I will keep their wee beautiful heads full of great stories about you that they will never forget you.”
Mr Connelly writes that he finds it hard to accept that his wife has been “so cruelly taken.”
In the note he also apologises for his flowers and card, saying they “are not as good as I usually give you, but the best I could find at eight o’clock last night”.
He ends: “Missing you so much, need you to keep looking after me. I need it. Love, John.”
A family statement released earlier this week said: “Partner John, sons Adam, Scott and the family are deeply shocked and saddened about the tragic accident on Monday culminating in the loss of our Jacqueline.
“We would like to pass on our thoughts and prayers to other families affected by this tragedy. We would like to pass on our thanks to the people who got to Jacqueline first and also to the emergency services at this difficult time.”
SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS