School bus driver sacked after driving children home while 3 times over the drink limit

A bus driver has been sacked after he took primary school pupils home on the school run while more than three times over the drink-drive limit. Stephen McColgan, 52, had just finished dropping off pupils from Bridge of Weir Primary when he was stopped by police last Friday (9 September) afternoon.

McColgan, of Paisley Road, Renfrew, who had picked up the children at about 3pm was found to have 72 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 22 micrograms.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed the incident in a statement which read: "Around 3.15pm on Friday, September 9, police received a report of a bus driver being under the influence of alcohol in the Bridge of Weir area.

"Officers attended and a 52-year old-man was arrested and detained in police custody in connection with alleged road traffic offences."

McColgan was held in police custody for three nights. Appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court he pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

The Daily Record reports that Sheriff David Pender noted that McColgan was three and a half times over the drink limit. "Being intoxicated in control of a motor vehicle is one thing - driving a school bus is quite a different matter," he said.

It has now been confirmed that the driver has been sacked from his position with bus firm Gibson Direct. The contract for the school run was granted to Gibson by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).

In a statement SPT said: "SPT was informed by Gibson Direct that one of its drivers had been arrested by Police Scotland on suspicion of drink driving when operating on a school contract.

"The company has subsequently confirmed that the individual in question has been dismissed. A full investigation is under way to determine the facts surrounding this incident paying particular emphasis to the bus company's internal procedures."

Following the incident, Bridge of Weir Primary School head teacher Carol Vallance wrote to parents saying that she had contacted police after concerns about the driver were raised.

The letter said: "At the time it was brought to my attention that the bus driver may have been drinking. I immediately reported my concerns to the bus company and our community police officer who contacted traffic police."

McColgan was banned from driving and released on bail, BBC News reports. He is due back in court next month.