Bus firm apology for simulation cock-up

BUS ÉIREANN bosses were left red-faced yesterday after the company reported a simulation exercise of a bus crash as a real event.

The cock-up led to relatives and journalists phoning gardaí and hospitals after hearing TV and radio reports that some passengers on board a Bus Éireann vehicle were seriously injured in an accident near Rathnew, Co Wicklow.

Bus Éireann managing director Bill Lilley admitted he was “very embarrassed” as he issued a profuse apology to emergency services, media organisations and members of the public.

Mr Lilley said he deeply regretted any upset, confusion or inconvenience which had been caused by the company’s mistake.

He explained the details of the simulation exercise had unintentionally been reported to the media as fact because nobody had informed the Bus Éireann’s executive responsible for external communications, Barry Coyle, that it was only conducting a test.

“Such simulation exercises are necessary to test the response of our emergency action plan,” said Mr Lilley.

He claimed it was unfortunate Mr Coyle, who was not present for the briefing about the fictitious accident, had not been informed about the exercise.

As a result, Mr Coyle issued a statement to the media shortly after 11am which reported a crash involving its 8am Dublin- Rosslare service near The Tap public house, on the main N11 road between Dublin and Wexford.

Journalists who contacted Mr Coyle were told the bus had veered off the road into a ditch at around 9.30am.

He claimed the accident was due to icy road conditions and that 11 of the 30 passengers were rushed to hospital including two people with serious injuries.

However, just over an hour after its first press release, Bus Eireann rushed out an apology for publicising the details of the simulation as fact.

It subsequently emerged only Mr Lilley and the company’s risk manager knew the details of the simulation exercise beforehand.

Mr Coyle acknowledged differences in information contained in the fictitious press releases reflected “factual errors which can occur in the confusion of real-life accidents”.

He claimed the exercise reflected the importance of cross-checking all facts before details of an incident were released to the media.

“We clearly need to put more checks and balances in the system,” said Mr Coyle.

However, he defended the exercise as necessary on the basis that Bus Éireann has 2,500 vehicles operation on average each day.

Last night, the chairman of CIÉ, John Lynch, ordered “a detailed and rigorous investigation” into all the relevant procedures surrounding yesterday’s embarrassing episode.