Tributes to bin lorry crash dead read at inquiry
Families of two of the six victims who died in the Glasgow bin lorry crash paid tribute to their loved ones in closing submissions at the fatal accident inquiry today.
The family of Jacqueline Morton said in a statement she will always be the "the brightest star in the sky" for her grand-daughters.
The 51-year-old had finished work early in Glasgow city centre on December 22 last year and was on her way to pick up her grand-daughters, Holly and Lilly who she nicknamed the "wee princesses", when she was knocked down and killed by the runaway bin lorry.
The statement read on behalf of her family Advocate Dana Baynes said she "brought fun and laughter wherever she went" with "the most beautiful smile".
Ms Morton's youngest grand-daughter's birthday was just two days away, on Christmas Eve, when the accident happened, the inquiry heard.
Earlier, the inquiry heard that the decision not to prosecute driver Harry Clarke has made it "more difficult" for the Morton family to deal with her death.
The family felt "let down by the justice process" and believe there was "sufficient evidence" to pursue a criminal case against Harry Clarke, the inquiry was told.
The inquiry into the tragedy, now in its sixth week, has previously heard evidence that Mr Clarke, 58, has a history of dizzy spells and fainting which he failed to disclose to the DVLA and on job application forms.
A statement was also read to the inquiry on behalf of 29-year-old Stephenie Tait's family.
The primary school teacher was Christmas shopping with her partner Martin Hannah in the city centre on the day of the tragedy.
She was waiting to use a cash machine on Queen Street when the bin lorry mounted the pavement and hit her and other pedestrians.
She loved her family and friends, the children she taught at St Philomena's and the colleagues she worked with, the statement read by Ronald Conway QC said.
Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and Lorraine Sweeney, 69, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed as the lorry driven by Mr Clarke veered out of control during a routine rubbish collection.