Testing firm guilty of breaching health and safety laws relating to school bus

A vehicle testing firm has been found guilty of breaching health and safety laws in relation to the testing of a school bus which was later involved in a fatal crash.

The bus went out of control on a bog road just outside Clara, Co Offaly on Apr 4, 2006, after the rear drive axle came off. Schoolboy Michael White, 15, died as a result of “catastrophic injuries”.

A bolt missing from the right side of the rear suspension system led to fatigue fractures, ultimately resulting in both sides of the suspension failing and the rear drive axle separating from the 1989 Mercedes bus.