The family of an 82-year-old Fife gran who was killed onboard a bus when a driver slammed on the brakes have hit out after he dodged jail.
Mum-of-three Elizabeth Colville was "capitulated" from her seat and consequently suffered a fatal head injury after her body collided with the driver's compartment on board a bus being driven by Michael Gillespie.
The Daily Record reports that Gillespie, 35, was ordered to carry out 234 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for three years last week after pleading guilty to causing her death in April 2019.
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The horrifying incident was witnessed by Elizabeth's then-17-year-old granddaughter, Abby.
Now, her son, Chris Colville, 48, has spoken of his frustration at Gillespie's sentence and said it has caused him to "lose all hope in the justice system."
He told the Record: "We are all gutted - it's a bloody disgrace.
"Community service for killing someone.
"I'm glad I didn't go to court. I wanted some justice for my mum and this isn't it. I've lost all hope in the system."
Elizabeth was travelling with granddaughter Abby to Glenrothes when Gillespie failed to give way to an oncoming car as he overtook parked cars near Freuchie.
A motorist came the opposite way up the road as Gillespie sped past the vehicles, causing him to perform an emergency stop and put his passengers at risk.
Her family say the gran had to be resuscitated twice at the scene and three times on the way to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
They made the difficult decision to switch off life support three days later.
Tragedy struck for the family again later that same year as Elizabeth's sons Chris, Tim and John lost their dad, Dave, - who they say was "never the same" after losing his wife.
The driver's reckless actions have also had a severe impact on granddaughter Abby, now 20, after she witnessed her beloved gran's death.
And her family believe the trauma of the trial affected her so badly that she gave birth to her daughter Leah six weeks early in March this year.
Chris added: "Abby and my mum had been really close - they were more like mother and daughter as we lost Abby's mum the day before her first birthday.
"What happened on the bus really messed her head about. She wasn't herself at all.
"Abby totally withdrew into herself, and she wasn't okay for a good while. She's not quite back to her old self yet either.
"The trial brought everything back to the surface."
A High Court in Edinburgh trial heard that the Moffat and Williamson driver had been speeding at 26mph, in excess of the 20mph limit, while driving his route on April 8 2019.
The trial was told that Gillespie, a first offender, had brought the bus to a complete stop from around 25mph in just four seconds.
Jane Gourlay, who had been driving in the direction of the bus, said: "I thought that the driver would move over before he got to the parked cars but he seemed to pick up speed and came towards me."
Lord Richardson, sentencing him earlier this week, said: "I do acknowledge at the time you immediately contacted the emergency services in order to assist the passenger who had been injured.
"I also accept you are sincerely and genuinely remorseful."
Gillespie, of Kirkcaldy, in Fife, originally faced a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but the Crown accepted his guilty plea to the lesser offence of causing death by driving carelessly.
Chris says the outcome of the case has given the family no comfort.
He added: "We thought Gillespie would get the jail but he didn't so we have had no comfort from this.
"My mum was the best. She held us all together."
George Devine, managing director of Moffat and Williamson, said: "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the passengers, and the families of the passengers who were onboard the vehicle at the time."
