Firm broke safety law in fatal crash

A VEHICLE testing company breached health and safety laws relating to a fatal school bus crash.

A jury of 10 men and two women found O’Reilly Commercials Ltd of Ballinalach in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, guilty on one count.

Michael White, 15, died when the rear axle detached and the bus flipped over on a bog road outside of Clara in Co Offaly.

One witness told Dublin circuit Criminal Court the vehicle was tilting on the morning of the crash in April 2006.

Kayleigh Murray said: “The bus was fairly broken down. I’m not a mechanic but it was tilting to one side.”

After deliberating for almost eight hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of 11 to one.

The case is due back before the court on April 15 for sentencing.

Article by irishmirror.ie