THE Crown office has again defended it's decision not to prosecute Harry Clarke after a Sheriff ruled that the bin lorry driver lied about medical conditions.

In his determination, following a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the crash, Sheriff John Beckett said Mr Clarke "repeatedly lied in order to gain and retain jobs and licences".

He also said Harry Clarke had five opportunities to tell the truth that could have prevented the crash.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service announced in February, just weeks after the crash, that they would not prosecute anyone in connection with it.

This position was reiterated and defended throughout the inquiry after it was criticised by families of the victims.

Following the publication of Sheriff Beckett's determination, the Crown said in a statement: "The Crown has repeatedly made it clear there was insufficient evidence in criminal law to prosecute the driver for the tragic deaths which resulted from this accident or for the wider circumstances including the information the driver provided to the DVLA or his employer."

The statement adds that there were "no findings in the determination that undermine the decisions not to prosecute the driver" and says: "It is important to note the sheriff was considering evidence at an FAI where a lesser standard of proof is required and where more relaxed rules of evidence apply.

"A criminal prosecution requires sufficient evidence to the much higher standard beyond reasonable doubt."

The Crown have also welcomed the sheriff's recommendations for changes to the DVLA practices and procedures.

The statement adds: "The Solicitor General wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport in October calling for the DVLA system of self-reporting by drivers to be reviewed.

"The Solicitor General has written again following the Sheriff’s determination to underline the need to overcome the recognised weakness of self-reporting.

"We also note the Sheriff has recommended, in light of these weaknesses, that the Crown, CPS and DVLA should review whether there are policies in place which prevent or discourage prosecution for breaches of section 94 and 174 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

"We will take forward with the DVLA consideration of the detection and reporting of these offences.

Glasgow City Council, who have been urged to implement a number of changes to their employment processes and provide training, said in a statement: "There is nothing we can say that will ease the pain and suffering of the bereaved, but our primary concern throughout has been for the families of those who lost their lives and those who were injured in this terrible accident, and that will always remain the case.

"Sheriff Beckett has made a number of recommendations and we are now considering how to implement them."

The sheriff recommended that local authorities, and any other organisations which collect rubbish, should seek to buy bin lorries that have automatic emergency breaking systems AEBS fitted.

Glasgow City Council says it is already doing this