Devastated family of Highland nursery teacher Chloe Morrison calls for sentence of lorry death driver to be appealed
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The devastated family of a nursery teacher who was killed when she was struck by a lorry plans to take civil action after the driver avoided jail.
Chloe Morrison (26), was struck by a fully extended part of a stabiliser on the lorry as she walked along a pavement on the A82 near Drumnadrochit with her mother.
There was uproar yesterday at the High Court in Stirling as driver John O'Donnell was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months.
Robert Morrison, Chloe’s father, spoke of the devastation he and his family felt following the sentencing.
"What happened in court yesterday caused a pain like losing our daughter for the second time," he said.
"How could O’Donnell kill someone else – either through arrogance or stupidity – then stand on that witness stand and make out like he didn’t know anything about the vehicle he was in control of?
"To add insult and trauma to our loss, he then just gets an effective slap on the wrist – it’s utterly insulting.
"We will be speaking with the fiscal next week to discuss this outcome but this can’t be final - I really hope the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) appeal this ludicrous sentence.
"We were assured to stay patient for more than three years and that justice would be
done but it hasn’t.
"While we always knew this was an accident there still has to be clear understandings about what happened, accountability and lessons to be learned to ensure no other family ever goes through this kind of situation.
"We had to walk past him outside court and I went up to him and said ‘You have no idea how much harm you have caused this family’."
High court uproar as Chloe Morrison's killer is sentenced to unpaid work
He said while O'Donnell went free, the family went to the cemetery in tears feeling like the loss of their daughter counted for nothing.
"We know there’s a consultation underway on death by driving – I hope it sorts outcomes like this because the whole system is a mess," Mr Morrison said.
The family has now launched a civil action in the hope of getting the recognition it deserves.
Sam Cowie, partner at Digby Brown in Inverness, said: "We were deeply shocked and saddened with what happened to Chloe because not only was her death untimely and unfair but it was completely avoidable.
"Chloe and the Morrison family deserve to be recognised and have chance to hold those responsible to account so we will support them throughout a civil process."
