DPP halts publication of Navan bus crash report

THE first report into last May’s tragic Co Meath bus crash, in which five young schoolgirls lost their lives, will not be published on the instruction of the Director of Public Prosecution.

The findings of the probe by an independent Board of Inquiry into the May 23 crash was conducted on behalf of Bus Éireann.

Yesterday, the company received a letter from the DPP saying publishing the report could be prejudicial to any potential court case associated with the crash.

It had been Bus Éireann’s intention to publish the report today, after copies had been given to the bereaved families and to the families of the other students involved in the accident.

“Bus Éireann will comply with this request and as a result the report will not be available until a future date,” the company stated.

Amy McCabe, Deirdre Scanlon, Claire McCluskey and Lisa Callan, all students of St Michael’s Loreto Convent, and Sinead Ledwidge of Beaufort College, died in the accident on the Navan to Kentstown Road as the bus was carrying pupils home from four schools in Navan. Forty-six people were injured. The bus was not fitted with seat belts.

The gardaí, Bus Eireann and the Health and Safety Authority launched mounted investigations into the crash, which happened near temporary traffic lights on a road that was recently resurfaced.

The Government pledged an extra €36.5 million to ensure the 138,000 students who use the transport would each have seat belts.