Vehicle-testing firm guilty of health and safety breach concerning school bus in fatal crash

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

A 15-year-old schoolboy was killed when the bus went out of control on a bog road just outside Clara, Co Offaly on April 4, 2006 after the rear drive axle came off.

David O'Reilly, acting on behalf of vehicle testing firm O'Reilly Commercials Ltd of Ballinalach, Mullingar, Co Westmeath had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of breaching health and safety laws when carrying out an official test on the bus between August 5 and 6, 2005.

Following a 23-day trial, the jury of 10 men and two women deliberated for just under eight hours before returning a verdict of guilty on the first count which outlined a failure to note the modified rear suspension system.

The vehicle testing company was found not guilty on three other counts of breaching health and safety law.