MOVES to discipline the driver of the Glasgow bin lorry that killed six people have stalled after he declared himself not enough to attend.
The union representing Harry Clarke has told Glasgow City Council that he is not medically fit to take part in the investigation into possible gross misconduct .
The claim has already delayed possible action against him by his employers. The Herald understands there is an expectation any delay will not be significant.
Disciplinary actions can take place in the subject's absence or occupational health used to determine the fitness or otherwise to attend.
Mr Clarke was suspended during the recent fatal accident inquiry into the crash, during which it emerged he had failed to disclose his history of fainting on job applications and on DVLA forms.
Fifty eight-year-old Mr Clarke went on “gardening leave” after returning to work earlier in the year.
At the time the city council said it had suspended him "on a precautionary basis pending a full disciplinary investigation" adding that "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".
Council officials stated during the inquiry that had they known about his medical history, he might never have been employed by them.
An investigation was due to begin once evidence to the inquiry was completed last Friday. As of yet it is understood none of the allegations concerning Mr Clarke have been put to him.
The disciplinary action has been on hold since the start of this week.
Mr 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.
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.
Mr 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.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "We cannot comment on individual employees."
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