THE families of bin lorry crash victims will seek a private prosecution against driver Harry Clarke. 

At a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the Queen Street tragedy Dorothy Bain QC, for the family of Jacqueline Morton, asked for the hearing to be adjourned so that she could start the process of a private prosecution. 

Alistair Forsyth QC for the family of Gillian Ewing agreed with this motion.

Mark Stewart QC for the families of Erin McQuade and Jack and Lorraine Sweeney said that the family disagree with the Crown decision not to prosecute Mr Clarke and that they wanted to "make that plain for the first time in the public forum".

He added that they "reserve all rights to seek a prosecution".  

It is understood they will also pursue this.

Ronald Conway for the family of Stephenie Tait said he will not seek a private prosecution and disagreed with the motion to adjourn. 

He said that the "public interest is best served" by taking note of the "systemic failures" in relation to the crash. 

Mr Conway said: "Telling lies is not a crime.

"Telling lies to the medical profession is not a crime.

"Difficult questions would be asked of Mr Clarke in those areas.

"The evidence is out there. The Taits want the inquiry to proceed."

If the inquiry continues Mr Clarke would be warned that he would not have to answer any questions which might incriminate him - in accordance with section 5 (2) of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976. 

Harry Clarke's solicitor Ronnie Clancy QC said he "wants to answer all the questions put to him at this inquiry" but added: "If there is a real possibility, as there appears to be, that he could be prosecuted for his part in this tragic accident then he is entitled to the protection of section 5."

Ms Bain said that Ms Morton's family are in an "impossible situation".

She said: "If the inquiry was to proceed and Mr Clarke did not answer questions they would feel deeply frustrated and that justice had not served them well." 

She suggested that it could take three months for the prosecution process to happen and suggested that the FAI could possibly resume after this time.

A private prosecution would need the authority of the High Court.

The inquiry heard that private prosecutions are extremely rare. 

Sheriff John Becket said that he will hear all other evidence, aside from Mr Clarke's, before taking a decision on the motion. 

It is expected that all other evidence will conclude on Wednesday.

The Crown Office stated in February, and again last week, that they will not be prosecuting Mr Clarke over the tragedy.

It had previously been claimed that Mr Clarke could be the first person in the UK to be prosecuted for offences such as failing to disclose a medical condition or making a false declaration to the DVLA. 

But Rhoderick McIlvride QC, representing the DVLA, said on Thurdsay that the government body would "not be taking the matter any further". 

Glasgow Times:

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

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.

Watch the bin lorry crash as it unfolded in Glasgow's George Square: