A RELATIVE of the three family members killed in the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy has said he does not blame the driver for their deaths.
Marc Gardiner, the nephew of 68-year-old Jack and 69-year-old Lorraine Sweeney, who died alongside their granddaughter Erin McQuade, 18, said he wished the driver a speedy recovery as he thanked the emergency services for doing all they could for his relatives.
In a message posted on Twitter he also said the messages of support received by the family had meant a lot.
Primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, and tax worker Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed when the council truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel in George Square on Monday.
Four people remain in hospital, including a 14-year-old girl and the 57-year-old driver of the bin lorry.
Mr Gardiner tweeted: "Been a really emotional and overwhelming day and on behalf of my family I just want to say thank you to everyone around Scotland sending in their condolences and best wishes!
"I hope that the other families that are going through what me and my family are get all the support possible and I hope that the driver of the lorry makes a speedy recovery and understands that it wasn't his fault.
"And a big thanks to all emergency services yesterday for doing everything possible.
"RIP Uncle Jackie, Aunt Lorraine and Erin, love you loads and can't believe you're gone, you'll be truly missed."
He added: "It means a lot, that the people of Glasgow are coming together for my family and the other families affected."
Glasgow was beginning to get back to normal yesterday as the festive attractions reopened at the square after remaining closed as a mark of respect.
However, many people still flocked to the city's Gallery of Modern Art nearby to lay flowers and light candles.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, said: "Glasgow City Council, in cooperation with partner agencies, took the decision to reopen George Square in a phased approach which began by providing access to the nativity scene and Christmas Tree.
"It was felt right to reflect on the tragic events that unfolded and close other attractions and activities until Boxing Day, providing a chance for people to pause and pay their respects in their own way over the Christmas period.
"We hope that by taking this approach, we can find the right balance between the need to pay our respects to those who have lost their lives and getting Glasgow back to some sense of normality."
Meanwhile, off-duty surgeon David Jack who fought in vain to save the dying victims of the tragedy has told how he is constantly reliving the horrific scenes.
Mr Jack, a cosmetic surgeon, was shopping when he heard screams and crashing noises.
He rushed to the scene to offer whatever assistance he could and tried to revive some of the casualties - including Miss Tait - while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
The 30-year-old, who is originally from Linlithgow but now lives in London, said: "It all keeps coming back. It's so horrible to constantly relive the scene over and over in my mind.
"There was no time to think. You just do what you can and see who needs help the most.
"I tried to resuscitate a couple of people, one of which was Stephenie, but it was pretty clear that nothing could be done.
"It was horrific. I have never experienced anything like this before."
Mr Jack, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, worked alongside another off-duty doctor and a nurse who co-ordinated their efforts with the paramedics when they arrived minutes later.
|He and a woman then tended to a man who he believes to be Stephenie Tait's boyfriend and comforted him in a nearby restaurant.
He added: "On Christmas, I just kept thinking how awful it must be for the families and realised how lucky I was to spend time with familiar faces who could help me try to forget about what happened."
Police Scotland say they are conducting a "thorough and exhaustive" inquiry into the crash. The force stressed there was nothing to suggest it was "a deliberate or malicious act".
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