Call to publish Bus Eireann crash report

Wexford Fine Gael TD Paul Keogh has called for the publication of a Bus Éireann report into a bus crash in Waterford city in 2004. The crash resulted in 18 people being injured when one bus hit another, then mounted the footpath, narrowly missing a busy bus stop. At the time the driver reported a "power surge" as the reason for the crash.

Bus Éireann is facing up to 12 cases from people claiming compensation due to injury in the crash, according to Paul Keogh. On 8 January 2007, Judge Leo Manion dismissed all charges against the driver of the bus. The state solicitor for the DPP said the state was not in a position to provide the relevant documentation.

Keogh believes that in light of recent incidents, such as the school bus crashes in Offaly and Meath, bus safety issues are of the utmost importance to the public, who have a right to know the findings of the Bus Éireann report. To not do so may put other people at risk. Keogh believes that the collapse of the case against the driver means the victims of the crash will get no satisfaction. The government made no inquiry into the 2004 incident, and the bus involved has been deemed roadworthy by Bus Éireann. The company stated that their report was for internal use only and never intended for publication.

Tom Rowe