Glasgow’s heart in pieces after bin truck horror
AN 18-year-old student and her grandparents were among those who died in the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy.
Tragic lorry crash victim Erin McQuade was only 18-years-old
Erin McQuade was killed while Christmas shopping in Glasgow with granddad Jackie Sweeney, 68, and his wife, 69-year-old Lorraine.
There were unconfirmed reports last night that the teenager’s mother was present and witnessed the three deaths.
This sad event is made even more difficult as it comes at Christmas time.
Another victim was primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, whom colleagues last night described as “wonderful”.
The other two people killed when the bin lorry went out of control on Monday afternoon were named as Jacqueline Morton, 51, and 52-year-old Gillian Ewing, who is believed to have been home in Scotland visiting friends.
Yesterday, a memorial service was held at a church just 50 yards from the Millennium Hotel where the runaway vehicle ended up embedded in a wall.
The service was attended by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who described Glasgow as a “broken-hearted city”.
Among the tributes paid to the victims was one from Her Majesty The Queen who sent a personal message to the city fathers. She said: “Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who have lost loved ones and to those who have been injured.
“This sad event is made even more difficult as it comes at Christmas time. I send my condolences to all the people of Glasgow.”
Gillian Ewing, a 52-year-old from Edinburgh, was also killed when the bin lorry hit pedestrians
This afternoon, the Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia will lead a memorial mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Mr Sweeney, his wife and Erin, an English literature student, all from Dumbarton, died when the Glasgow City Council wagon ploughed into them around 2.30pm on Monday as it sped out of control along Queen Street and into George Square.
The death of Ms McQuade prompted a tribute from the vice-chancellor of Glasgow University where she studied.
Professor Anton Muscatelli, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear that one of our students has been tragically killed in this terrible incident.”
Ms McQuade worked as a housekeeper at the Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomondside.
It is believed her grandparents had returned to Scotland from Ontario, Canada, where Mr Sweeney was president of a branch of a Celtic supporters’ club.
Another victim, Stephenie Tait, was a primary school teacher in Glasgow
Another victim of the Glasgow lorry crash has been named as Jack Sweeney
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “We know of Jack’s strong connection to Celtic and I am sure I speak for everyone when I say our thoughts and prayers are with them, their relatives and every other victim of this tragic incident.”
Stephenie Tait taught at St Philomena’s Primary in Glasgow’s Provanmill and lived with her parents, Alan and Margaret, in nearby Riddrie. Relatives were too upset to speak but her head teacher, Catherine, Gallagher, said: “Stephenie made a wonderful contribution to the life of St Philomena’s. She will be sadly missed by both pupils and staff.”
It is understood Gillian Ewing lived in Famagusta, Cyprus. A neighbour of her relatives in Edinburgh said: “I assume she was back for Christmas.”
One of the 10 other people injured, thought to be the lorry driver, was still critical in Glasgow Royal Infirmary last night. Another was serious but stable while a third was stable and another was expected to be discharged.
Another patient at the Western Infirmary is also stable while a sixth was expected to be released from the Southern General Hospital.