THE driver in the George Square bin lorry crash lied about a previous blackout just hours after the incident and was given his licence back months later because he did not tell the DVLA about it, a fatal accident inquiry has heard.

The hearing into the crash, which killed six people in December last year, heard Harry Clarke was asked about previous incidents at 7.45pm on the day of the disaster while he was being treated in hospital. He denied ever having any despite blacking out in 2010.

The 58-year-old driver was given his licence back by the DVLA in April this year after he again failed to disclose the previous fainting episode.

It was only when lawyers for the government agency received his full medical history in relation to the FAI that his licence was revoked in June.

Mr Clarke was driving the Glasgow City Council truck on December 22 when he lost consciousness at the wheel and the lorry veered out of control.

It has since emerged that he suffered from previous blackouts and dizziness, but failed to notify the local authority when he applied for his post there.

The inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday heard evidence from Mr Clarke's GP Gerald McKaig who was shown a note from the doctor who treated Mr Clarke on the day of the crash.

Dorothy Bain QC, representing the family of one of the victims, said: "That note states he was asked by the doctor if he had had a similar episode previously, namely a blackout, and it records that he has never had a similar episode."

The advocate put it to Mr McKaig that Mr Clarke's response was "inconsistent" with the evidence of him blacking out behind the wheel of a stationary bus in 2010.

Mr McKaig replied: "Yes."

Ms Bain goes on to say that when asked the same question by another doctor the following day, the driver replied that he had suffered a panic attack in 2004.

Mr McKaig again agreed that was inconsistent with Mr Clarke's medical history.

The advocate added that, looking at the evidence, Mr Clarke was "inconsistent" about his medical history on seven different occasions, both before and after the crash.

Mr McKaig was also questioned by the lawyer representing the DVLA, Rhoderick McIlvride QC, who pointed to a number of letters the agency has received from Mr Clarke's medical team following the incident.

He revealed that none of them mentioned the 2010 incident.

Mr McIlvride asked: "If we hear evidence that at the time of the restoration of Mr Clarke's licence on April 28, the DVLA had no information at all about the incident in 2010, from either Mr Clarke or any medical practitioners, would that surprise you?"

Mr McKaig replied: "It would surprise me yes."

The inquiry heard that the agency only received the medical information as a result of the FAI and then wrote to Mr Clarke on June 26 to tell him that his licence was being revoked.

His ordinary licence has now been revoked for 12 months, while his LGV licence is revoked for ten years.

The inquiry also heard that there is a "clear disparity" between the accounts of the 2010 blackout, which took place while he was working for First Bus.

Mr Clarke told Mr McKaig it occurred in a work canteen, but the bus firm claim it was at the wheel of a stationary bus.

The GP, who said he has "no clear recollection" of his appointment with Mr Clarke at that time, was asked by Solicitor General Lesley Thomson QC if there was any way he could have taken down the wrong version of events given to him.

He replied: "No, not at all."

Glasgow Times:

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, died when the lorry lost control in Queen Street and George Square on December 22.

Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed when the truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel.

The inquiry, before Sheriff John Beckett QC, continues.