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Glasgow bin lorry crash: Mother mourns loss of daughter and parents in tragedy

Three generations of Jacqeline McQuade's family had been out Christmas shopping

Jon Stone
Wednesday 24 December 2014 09:22 GMT
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Jack Sweeney, left, and wife Lorraine Sweeney with their granddaughter, Erin McQuade
Jack Sweeney, left, and wife Lorraine Sweeney with their granddaughter, Erin McQuade

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A woman is mourning the loss of her daughter and both of her parents after a refuse lorry crashed into a crowd of people in Glasgow, killing six of them.

Jack Sweeney, Lorraine Sweeney, and Erin McQuade all died after the vehicle ploughed through a crowded shopping street in Glasgow’s George Square on Monday this week.

According to the Times newspaper, Jacqeline McQuade had been visiting a bank nearby when her parents and daughter were killed.

John Sweeney, a relative of Mr and Mrs Sweeney, posted on Facebook: "No words can describe the pain. R.I.P. Jack, Lorraine and Erin. Thoughts and prayers go out to the other families that lost loved ones as well."

The Record reports that all three were out Christmas shopping when they were hit by the vehicle.

Gillian Ewing, 52, Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, all from Scotland, were also all killed.

The motor vehicle also injured ten further people, six of whom are still being treated in hospitals across Glasgow. The driver of the lorry also sustained injuries after the lorry crashed into a hotel.

George Square which was packed with Christmas shoppers and families at its annual winter carnival when the lorry mounted the pavement before crashing into the Millennium Hotel, next to Queen Street Station.

Messages of condolences have been issued by Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, the prime minister David Cameron, and the Queen.

Stephenie Tait and Gillian Ewing were among the six people killed when the bin lorry lost control
Stephenie Tait and Gillian Ewing were among the six people killed when the bin lorry lost control (PA)

The Queen said her “thoughts and prayers” and those of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh were with the families of those killed and those who had 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,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon said the grief caused by the tragedy would be "raw".

"My thoughts are with everyone involved in the dreadful George Square incident."

"As the city wakes up this morning, the sheer sense of horror and grief that happened yesterday will be very, very raw for people,” she told BBC Radio Scotland.

Mr Cameron said: "I'm being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved and the emergency services."

A man was arrested yesterday as police investigated claims an offensive message was posted on to Twitter about the crash.

Police are still investigating what caused the incident.

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