Glasgow bus driver who killed pedestrian sentenced

At Glasgow Sheriff Court George McInally was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work

A bus driver who killed a vulnerable pensioner after he ran her over at Glasgow's Buchanan Street station has been given a community sentence.

George McInally, 64, turned into the station and hit pedestrian Roseanne McLaughlan, 71, as she walked across the road in October 2021.

Ms McLaughlin, who suffered from dementia, was dragged under the bus and died later in hospital.

McInally, from Coatbridge, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was also placed on 12 months' supervision, given a six-month restriction of liberty order, and banned from driving for a year.

McInally, who has been a driver for 40 years, previously admitted causing Ms McLaughlin's death by careless driving.

He was fired from his position at First Bus but has since taken a new position elsewhere.

Vision impaired

Sheriff Andrew Cubie said: "I read victim impact statements from her [Ms McLaughlin's] four children.

"It is clear her sudden and unexpected death with no opportunity to say farewell had a devastating effect on the wider family, siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

The sheriff said McInally's vision was impaired by a pillar.

He said: "Her [Ms McLaughlin's] hood was up, understandably in October, which affected her all-round vision and she walked off the pavement without breaking her stride or looking left or right.

"The cause of the death was for Mr McInally failing to see Roseanne when she walked along the pavement when he had four seconds to do so."

The court heard that McInally had dropped off his last passenger and was to enter the station to start a short break.

Prosecutor John Adams said: "As Roseanne crossed the road at the pedestrian crossing between the white line and the word "slow" on the road surface, the bus turned left to enter the station.

"On reaching the front of the road, the front near side of the vehicle struck Roseanne causing her to fall backwards to the ground.

"The front nearside wheel drove over her and the bus stopped with her dragged underneath."

'Lapse of attention'

Ms McLaughlin was taken to hospital where she was found to have suffered brain, pelvic and abdominal injuries as well as internal bleeding.

She died the following night.

Richard Freeman, defending, said the manner of driving could be described as a momentary lapse of attention.

He said: "This arose, not because he allowed himself to be affected by matters external to driving, but because he was in the process of doing other safety checks.

"He failed to look at the single portion of pavement when preparing to turn into the depot.

"This was not someone with the benefit of seeing a pedestrian walking along the pavement.

"The view of her was restricted by fencing which had posters along its length and since this incident Buchanan Bus Station has removed these posters along that area."