Exclusive:Family's anguish as cyclist killed by drug driver weeks after brother seriously injured in crash
The Gillies family has suffered two cycling traumas with the loss of Scott and the life-changing injuries to Ian
A family hit by a double-cycling tragedy has spoken of their trauma after a driver pleaded guilty to causing the death of one brother - just weeks after his older brother was gravely injured while out on his bike.
Scott Gillies, 50, a father-of-two of Garrowhaill, was knocked from his bike by drug driver Edward Parsons, 66, - who tested positive for cannabis - and died of his injuries at the scene of the crash in June 2023.
Parsons pleaded guilty this week at the High Court in Glasgow to death by dangerous driving and being over the limit for cannabis.
Following the guilty plea, Scott’s family has told of their distress at not knowing the full circumstances of the death of the much-loved man.
His family -including his brother Ian Gillies - watched footage in court of his final moments - but say they have been left with more questions than answers.
Just weeks before Scott was killed, Ian was knocked from his bike by a drunk driver and left with life-changing injuries.
Scott had cared for his brother and supported him in the extremely difficult time following his crash.
Then Scott left for a Sunday afternoon leisure ride from which he never returned.
Ian, of Garthamlock, said Scott was not only his younger brother but also his best friend and the two were extremely close.
“We are a large family and Scott was a big part of the glue that kept us all together,” he said.
“He could fall out with us at times because he had really strong opinions but he always looked for the best in people.
“Me and Scott, we were best of friends.”
Ian had been cycling near to the Garfield House Hotel in Stepps when he was hit from behind by drunk driver.
Mark Hugh Shields was fined £540 for the crash on May 6, 2022, and banned for driving for 12 months.
Five weeks after Ian’s incident, Scott, a signalman with Network Rail, had taken his bike out to cycle to the Campsie Hills on one of his regular excursions.
READ MORE:A barely audible 'guilty' marks the pinnacle of the Peter Murrell drama that has dogged the SNP
A keen cyclist, he would often he would cycle 50 to 60 miles - usually wearing his favourite Saltire jersey.
The father-of-two was on the A806 Initiative Road in East Dunbartonshire when he also was hit from behind, on Initiative Road in Kirkintilloch. Parsons was driving his work van at the time.
Ian had been lobbying East Dunbartonshire Council to take a meaningful look at the safety of Initiative Road, particularly for cyclists at the time of his brother’s fatal collision.
The Gillies family said they were baffled by the incident as it was a bright afternoon and the carriageway is straight with good visibility.
Ian, 57, and his other brothers later visited the crash site where they saw parts of Scott’s bike helmet lying on the ground.
In court, the family watched a 19 second video taken from Scott’s rear view bike camera.
The front camera, the court heard, was too damaged to be used.
In those 19 seconds, Mr Gillies said, a total of nine other vehicles safely passed Scott on the road.
“Scott’s son and daughter were [in court], our sister and two of our other brothers as well, and I could see the effect on them.
“[Parsons] had 19 seconds of driving time to see Scott on a long straight road on a good day.
“How do you possibly stay straight in the road like that and not see a cyclist?
“He drove through him as if Scott was invisible.”
Watching the footage was harrowing for the family, including Scott’s daughter Louise, 26, and son Andrew, 23.
“Watching the video, you are seeing the last segments of your brother’s life, watching his life slipping away,” Mr Gillies said.
“There’s a lot of family anger and distress at how this could have happened.”
Parson’s guilty plea, entered as the trial was scheduled to begin, has frustrated the Gillies family, who say they need answers in order to move forward from Scott’s death.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon makes her final address to the Holyrood chamber - did she keep her Promise?
Ian, 56, said: “In court I felt angry because that's the first time I've seen the person who killed my brother.
“My brother should not have been killed. He should still be with us.
“Not going to trial means that we are not going to hear the reason Parsons was going to give - we are left with absolutely no answers as to why Scott was killed.
“It’s incomprehensible.”
Ian describes his brother as “so conscientious” when he was on his bike and an advocate of safe cycling.
He had bought Scott bike mounted cameras and insisted he use them, with the cyclist going on to post videos on Facebook of poor driving and near misses with cars.
Ian said he had watched his brother’s footage in the past and thought of how fortunate he had been.
“I remember one of the notes on a video was, ‘I am the Invisible Man,’ after a close pass from a car,” he said.
“It just shows how carelessness can cause so much damage - people don’t realise the potential outcome, the effect it can have on families.
“People can have their lives destroyed by someone not paying attention on the road.”
Ian is still unable to work following his own crash and lives with constant pain and the uncertainty of not knowing when - or if - he might be well again.
"At least I can feel pain,” he said. “I wish Scott could feel pain.”
The judge, Tony Kelly, remanded Parsons in custody.
He will return for sentencing later this month.