Sharkey's challenge
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II No action was :taken against the licence of Airdrie-based Sharkey Skip Hire after the firm challenged the way in which one of its vehicles had been given a prohibition notice.
Granting renewal of the firm's three vehicle licence. Scottish Licensing Authority Hugh McNamara said it was difficult to establish the truth after six months and he made no judgement over who was right or wrong.
Vehicle examiner George Lynn said he had imposed an immediate prohibition for five items on one of the firm's vehicles in February. He had only been able to carry out a partial visual inspection due to weather conditions. Though the firm had been initially unable to start the vehicle concerned, it was started later and one of the defects was excessive black smoke.
Despite this general manager Robert Sharkey and one of the firm's employees both claimed that the vehicle had never been started. They produced a letter from a garage dated the following day which stated that no trace of excessive smoke could be detected.
Sharkey also maintained that wear on shackle pins and bushes could not be detected by a visual inspection. He claimed that the vehicle had passed its annual test with a shackle pin the vehicle examiner had alleged was worn and dangerous.