BIN lorry crash driver Harry Clarke was suspended from his job as a bus driver when he took a job with Glasgow City Council, an inquiry heard today.

The fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of six people in the accident last December heard accusations that either someone at Mr Clarke's previous employers First Bus had 'failed in their duty to members of the public' or Glasgow City Council had a 'grossly incompetent' reference process.

The inquiry was shown Mr Clarke's employment record from his time with First Bus.

This showed that on December 29, 2010, Mr Clarke received a letter to advise that he was suspended from duty for being "ahead of time" - arriving at a bus stop before announced time - and he was required to attend a hearing on December 31, 2010.

The inquiry was told that Mr Clarke did not attend this hearing because he handed in his notice and started working for Glasgow City Council on January 5, 2011.

The inquiry heard that there is no reference to the First Bus suspension in Mr Clarke's council employment record.

There is also no reference to Mr Clarke being give a "final formal written warning" by First Bus bosses for absence in November 2009.

This related to 10 days absence for "stress".

In documentation shown to the inquiry, Mr Clarke appealed the disciplinary action.

He wrote that it was "too severe" and said: "The doctor was going to give me a month off but I said 10 days because of my work. Big mistake."

The inquiry was shown a letter from bosses informing Mr Clarke that his appeal against this warning was refused.

Mr Ronald Conway, who represents the family of crash victim Stephenie Tait, said that references detailing these disciplinary matters were not included in Mr Clarke's council records.

He said: "Someone has blundered.

"Either someone in First Bus has singularly failed in their duty to members of the public or Glasgow City Council carried out a grossly incompetent reference process."

Council operations manager, and Mr Clarke's boss, Douglas Gellan that he would have "hoped" that the council had made the appropriate inquiries but did not know for sure.