Judge dismisses 'utterly opportunistic' claims for 'minor injuries' from Cork bus crash

Judge O’Donohoe warned that such cases are costly to society and have become “a racket”.

The court heard that the bus driver just released the handbrake to take off when he noticed some of the boys out of their seats. He turned around to tell them to put on their seat belts. When he looked forward, he saw that the bus had rolled into the lorry stopped in front. File picture: Larry Cummins

“Purely and utterly opportunistic” is how a judge described cases taken against a serving garda and Foróige youth development organisation for "minor injuries" sustained in a bus crash in Cork.

Judge O’Donohoe dismissed the three cases with legal costs for the plaintiffs to pay and warned that such cases are costly to society and have become “a racket”.