Bin lorry crash driver Harry Clarke has been suspended by Glasgow City Council.

Fifty eight-year-old Clarke went on “gardening leave” after returning to work earlier in the year.

The council has now suspended the driver after evidence emerged at a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) that he repeatedly misled officials over his history of blackouts.

A council spokesman said: “The council can confirm that it has suspended Harry Clarke on a precautionary basis pending a full disciplinary investigation.

“A number of allegations have been made during the enquiry in regard to Mr Clarke’s conduct before and at the point where he commenced employment with the council.

“These allegations have yet to be put to Mr Clarke and he has not yet had the opportunity of responding to them. The internal investigation will therefore take place at the conclusion of the FAI.”

It is understood Clarke will remain on the council payroll during the suspension.

Clarke was at the wheel of a council bin lorry on December 22 last year when it careered out of control in Queen Street and mounted the pavement before crashing into the Millennium Hotel.

The Herald:

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, Stephenie Tait, 29, Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were killed and ten others were injured.

An FAI into the tragedy has heard evidence that Clarke failed to disclose details of his medical history on seven separate occasions.

The hearing was told that he previously suffered a blackout behind the wheel of a stationary bus in 2010, while working for transport firm First.

He made no mention of it when he completed a health questionnaire when applying for a job with the council, the FAI was told.

The driver even failed to disclose the extent of his medical history to doctors hours after the out-of-control bin lorry left six people dead.

The inquiry has also heard that the DVLA only revoked Clarke’s licence on June 26, after evidence emerged at the FAI that he is unfit to drive.

Clarke had his licence reinstated on April 28 after failing to notify the DVLA about a history of blackouts.

His ordinary licence has now been revoked for a year, while his LGV licence is revoked for 10 years.