Glasgow: Woman Saw Daughter And Parents Killed

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A woman saw her teenage daughter and parents "killed almost right in front of her" in the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy - moments after she reportedly left them to withdraw money from a cash machine.

Jacqueline McQuade saw the aftermath of the crash which killed six people, including 18-year-old daughter Erin McQuade and parents Jack and Lorraine Sweeney.

The victims of the runaway council truck - which veered on to the pavement and drove up to 300 yards out of control before crashing into the side of a city centre hotel - were remembered at a special church service today.

Primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed.

Another 10 people, including the driver, were injured.

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Gallery: Victims Of Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash

Jacqueline Morton, 51, who had left work early to collect her granddaughters

Stephenie Tait, 29, was a teacher at St Philomena's Primary school

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Gillian Ewing, 52, was also killed in the accident

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Jack Sweeney, 68, from Dumbarton, was killed along with his wife and granddaughter

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Erin McQuade, 18, with her grandmother Lorraine Sweeney, aged 69

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Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia held a mass at St Andrew's Cathedral for all those affected by the tragedy.

He told those gathered that he spent time with those who had lost their loved ones in crash.

"On the evening of the tragedy, I was privileged to be permitted to spend some time with one of the families who had been cruelly devastated by the incident," he said.

"I was able to witness and share the grief and sadness of a mother and of a father for their daughter, and of two daughters for their mother and father.

"The distressed woman to whom I was speaking had seen her daughter and her own parents killed almost right in front of her. Can you imagine the horror?

"I tried to console them and comfort them. We spoke and we cried and we were silent before the abyss of their loss and the random meaninglessness of what had happened.

"They openly spoke of their faith, but their faith was sorely tried, and I commended them silently to god that the Lord would find the way to bring them comfort."

A statement released on behalf of the family of Jacqueline Morton said: "Partner John, sons Adam, Scott and the family are deeply shocked and saddened about the tragic accident on Monday culminating in the loss of our Jacqueline.

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Gallery: Tributes For Lorry Crash Victims

A service to remember the victims of the disaster will be held at Glasgow's St Andrew's Cathedral at 1pm

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"We would like to pass on our thoughts and prayers to other families affected by this tragedy.

"We would like to pass on our thanks to the people who got to Jacqueline first and also to the emergency services at this difficult time."

A £60,000 council fund for the relatives of those killed will be open to the public for donations.

Paying tribute to the victims at the scene of the disaster on Monday, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the tragedy had left the city "broken-hearted".

"This city will pull together to support those who have been affected, not just in the days ahead but in the weeks and months to come," she said.

The driver and five others remain in hospital, with one patient said to be in a critical condition.

It is not yet clear what caused the driver, who has not been named, to lose control of the vehicle.

Witnesses reported seeing him slumped at the wheel as the lorry collided with pedestrians on Queen Street, before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel at George Square.

Hundreds of floral tributes have been laid at the site of the disaster.

Personal tributes from friends and relatives of the victims are also pouring in.

Headteacher of the Glasgow primary school where Ms Tait was a teacher, Catherine Gallagher, described her as "an excellent young teacher, dedicated to the children."

Mr Sweeney, meanwhile, was a former president of Bramalea Celtic supporters club in Canada.

The club released a statement expressing "great shock and sadness" about his death and the death of his wife and granddaughter.

Miss McQuade was a first year student of English Literature at Glasgow University. She worked at Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond, which described her as "one of our brightest and dedicated members of housekeeping staff".

The lorry disaster was the second major tragedy to strike Glasgow in just over 12 months.

Last November a police helicopter crashed on to the roof of a crowded pub, killing 10 people.

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