Fatal crash man gives up licence

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A driver who caused a crash in which his two passengers died has voluntarily handed in his driving licence.

James O'Grady, 74, from Leith, was on his way to Kirkcudbright for Christmas last year when his car hit a van on the A701 in Dumfries and Galloway.

O'Grady admitted careless driving in the crash in which sisters Joanne and Julia Jackson were killed.

He was also fined £200 and banned from driving for six months at Dumfries Sheriff Court.

O'Grady was travelling south with his carer - Joanne Jackson - and her sister when the accident took place.

The women - both from Edinburgh - were seriously injured in the crash and later died.

Partially disabled

O'Grady had previously pleaded guilty to driving carelessly, failing to keep his car under proper control and colliding with a van on the A701 near St Anne's Bridge.

It had been stated that he had been partially disabled by a stroke in 1988 and held a full driving licence for an automatic car with a special device

The court had been told he had nine points on his licence but was keen to retain it as he was in a wheelchair and unable to use public transport.

However, his solicitor Bill McVicar told the court he was now prepared to surrender his licence.