Navan schoolbus deaths ruled accidental

Verdicts of accidental death have been returned by the jury at the inquest into the deaths of the five schoolgirls in the Navan bus crash in 2005.

The girls aged between 14 and 18 died when the bus bringing them home went out of control and overturned on the Navan-Kentstown Road in Meath over three years ago.

The families of Claire McCluskey (18), Deirdre Scanlon (17), Lisa Callan (15), Amy McCabe (15) and Sinead Ledwidge (14) heard that if the anti lock braking system fitted on the bus had been working properly the wheels would not have locked up and the driver would have been able to maintain control of it.

The Meath county coroner John Lacy said that based on the evidence, the ABS system was not functioning adding that it appeared to be the primary cause of the accident.

Pathologist Dr Brian Farrell said the injuries the girls suffered were "consistent with a roll over transportation incident where the passengers are unrestrained."

The families declined to comment after the jury returned verdicts of accidental death but made recommendations which will be included in the formal verdicts and passed onto the relevant authorities.