THE driver of the bin lorry involved in the George Square crash made inquiries about regaining his HGV licence back just four months after the accident which left six people dead, a fatal accident inquiry has been told.

Harry Clarke's attempt to obtain his documentation came despite a heart specialist told him in February - two months after the incident in Glasgow city centre on December 22 last year - that it was unlikely he should ever try to drive the trucks again.

The hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court was shown DVLA records today which show that on March 13: “licence holder phoned for progress enquiry.”

Records show the 58-year-old driver then made another call on April 2 to check if he could re-apply for his licence. 

Mr Clarke’s HGV licence was suspended after the accident on December 22 last year when the bin lorry he was driving went out of control in Glasgow City Centre after he suffered a blackout.

In February, Professor Andrew Rankin had advised Mr Clarke not to drive HGV vehicles again after he learned that he had suffered a blackout in April 2010 at the wheel of a bus.

He has also been diagnosed with the condition Neurocardiogenic syncope, which causes a temporary loss of consciousness.

There is a 20 per cent risk of a recurring episode in the next two years, the inquiry heard.

Professor Rankin said he advised Mr Clarke: “It seems unlikely that you should be driving a heavy goods vehicles again.”

Under cross-examination from Ronald Conway, who is representing the family of George Square victim Stephenie Tait, said: “Mr Clarke can not have been in any doubt about the implications of your advice?

“On the face of it he seems anxious to have his HGV licence restored.”

Later, a doctor who advises on GP standards described the current DVLA system as “not fit for purpose”

Dr Ronald Neville said asking occupational health advisors to judge whether a driver should keep his licence had a “safety flaw” because they might not have access to key facts about the driver’s health.

He said there were around 60,000 applications for vocational licences each year in the UK, which would represent around two each for every GP.

He said: “I would be more than happy to contribute my two.

“The system is not fit for purpose. It is possible for a patient applying for a licence to not divulge very import things on the medical questionnaire

“The current system could be improved if the GP records were included in the loop of safety checks.

“Whatever it takes we have to make sure that people who are driving our buses and lorries are doing so safely.”

Under cross-examination from Solicitor General Lesley Thomson, Dr Neville, told the inquiry under the current system there could be 60,000 applications going through the system that are missing important information.

He replied: “That is correct.”

However Dr Neville acknowledged that there might be some objections from overworked GPs about taking on the responsibility to complete D4 forms.

Glasgow Times:

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, died when the lorry lost control in Queen Street and crashed into the Millennium Hotel in George Square. Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, Gillian Ewing, 52, were also killed.

The inquiry before Sheriff John Beckett QC continues.