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Glasgow bin lorry crash: three victims from same family are named Glasgow bin lorry crash: three victims from same family are named
(35 minutes later)
Three of the six victims killed when a bin lorry careered out of control through a city centre were an elderly couple and their granddaughter. An elderly couple and their teenaged granddaughter have been named by relatives as three of the six people killed when an out-of-contol council bin lorry ploughed through pedestrians in Glasgow city centre.
Jack Sweeney, his wife Lorraine, and granddaughter Erin McQuade, understood to be in her teens, died on Monday after the council vehicle drove through a street full of shoppers in Glasgow. Jack Sweeney, his wife, Lorraine, and their granddaughter, Erin McQuade, from Dumbarton, were thought to be Christmas shopping together when they were struck by the lorry as it careered through George Square before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel at around 2.30pm on Monday.
Mr Sweeney, from Dumbarton, was a former president of Bramalea Celtic supporters club in Canada. The grandparents had links with Canada, where Mr Sweeney was once president of Bramalea Celtic supporters club. A statement posted on the club’s Facebook page said: “It is with great shock and sadness we share with you our friend and past president Jack Sweeney, his wife Lorraine and granddaughter Erin were victims of today’s tragedy in Glasgow.”
A statement posted on the Bramalea Celtic supporters club Facebook page said: “It is with great shock and sadness we share with you our friend and past president Jack Sweeney, his wife Lorraine and granddaughter Erin were victims of today’s tragedy in Glasgow. Relative John Sweeney described himself as “feeling heartbroken” on Facebook. He wrote: “No words can describe the pain. R.I.P. Jack, Lorraine and Erin. Thoughts and prayers go out to the other families that lost loved ones as well.”
“Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the Sweeney family.” Three other females were also killed as the truck mounted the pavement, scattering pedestrians “like pinballs”, according to witnesses. Ten people were injured, six of whom remain in hospitals around the city.
Three other females were also killed and 10 people were injured, six of whom remain in hospitals around the city. The driver, who was described by some at the scene as appearing to be slumped at the wheel, was also taken to hospital on Monday. Glasgow city council confirmed on Tuesday morning that two other crew members were in the lorry at the time of the crash, but their condition is not known.
A special prayer service has been held for the victims at the nearby St George’s Tron parish church. A metal police cordon erected late on Monday remained in place on Tuesday, hiding the scene of the crash from onlookers. A fleet of private ambulances carrying the dead left the area earlier on Tuesday morning. The Christmas lights have been switched off in George Square and flags on public buildings in the city are flying at half-mast. Ch Insp Mark Sutherland of Police Scotland said it was hoped that the square would be re-opened later.
The Rev Stuart Smith, moderator of Glasgow Presbytery of the Church of Scotland, said the circumstances of the crash were “more sudden and shocking than we could have imagined possible if it wasn’t for the evidence right here in front of us”. A growing bank of floral tributes has been moved by police to the area outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Royal Exchange Square. Ian MacLeod came to the scene with three colleagues, one of whom fought back tears. He left a bunch of sunflowers on their behalf. “We work in the red sandstone building nearby and could see it all unfolding out the window.”
The service was attended by Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Glasgow city council leader, Gordon Matheson. Describing the mood in Glasgow as sombre, he added: “It’s very sad. I think this place will be covered in flowers by the end of the day.”
Ahead of the service Sturgeon said that Glasgow was waking with a “broken heart” but praised the city’s resilience, adding: “This city will pull together to support those who have been affected, not just in the days ahead but in the weeks and months to come.” Jade Russell, 22, a shop worker from nearby Sauchiehall Street, laid purple carnations at the scene. “I just wanted to pay my respects. It’s a dreadful thing to happen at any time of year but just unbelievable so close to Christmas. The thing about this city is that it really does pull together.”
It is thought the driver might have fallen ill at the wheel as he travelled up Queen Street and his vehicle struck a pedestrian outside the Gallery of Modern Art. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, arrived at the scene just after 11am on Tuesday. She said that her thoughts were with all the victims of the tragedy and praised the emergency services for their response. “2014 has been an incredible year for Glasgow, but a year bookended by two unimaginable tragedies,” she said.
The truck continued, hitting several other people and coming to a halt only when it crashed into the side of Millennium Hotel in George Square. “This city will pull together to support those affected not just in the days ahead but in the weeks and months to come,” she added. “Glasgow is a city that I am deeply proud to call my home.”
A Glasgow city council spokeswoman said there were two other crew members on the lorry at the time of the crash, but the condition of the two men was not known. Jim Murphy, newly elected leader of the Scottish Labour party, described the tragedy as “another dark day for the city” as he arrived for a service in memory of the victims at St George’s Tron church.
A large cordon remains in place at the square and hundreds of floral tributes have been placed at the scene. Rev Stuart Smith, moderator of the presbytery of Glasgow, told the congregation of members of the public, emergency service personnel as well as Sturgeon, Gordon Mathieson, leader of Glasgow city council, and the city’s lord provost: “Side by side, arm in arm, this is a city united in grief.”
A fleet of private ambulances carrying the dead left the area earlier this morning “The celebration of Christmas will be different for everybody this year as we reflect on what it means for others with empty places at the table.”
The Christmas lights have been switched off in George Square and flags on public buildings in the city are flying at half-mast. Members of the emergency services comforted one another outside the church, the toll of the past 24 hours visible.
Police have not yet formally named any of the victims. Eleanor Stewart, 27, came to the service after hearing that it was taking place close to a work meeting. “I’m not particularly religious, but I was moved. It brings people together, and there’s somewhere to go. When you see things online you can feel quite distant, so it’s just nice to be with other people this morning.”