A NEW Sheriff has been appointed to oversee the fatal accident inquiry into the bin lorry crash after it emerged his predecessor realised he knew one of those killed.
Sheriff Principal Craig Scott QC has appointed Sheriff John Beckett to replace him on the inquiry, which is due to be held on July 22.
No details of which of the six people it was that Sheriff Principal Scott knew but information from the Judiciary of Scotland today said he had "since become aware he was acquainted with one of the deceased and is known to their family."
The statement said: "This was not initially apparent due to the manner in which the deceased was designed in the original application to the court."
"In the circumstances, Sheriff Principal Scott has taken the immediate decision to recuse himself from the inquiry and has appointed Sheriff John Beckett QC to replace him."
The next preliminary hearing into the fatal crash in the city centre last December is due to take place on June 18 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
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