THE COURTS Service of Ireland says it is trying to address certain "limitations" in its operations after a case related to the Kentstown bus crash in 2005 was adjourned yesterday when no courtroom was available.
Five schoolgirls died in the crash when a school bus went out of control and overturned on the Kentstown Road near Navan, Co Meath, on May 23rd, 2005.
Keltank Ltd, of Balbriggan, Co Dublin, which had a contract to service the bus, and McArdle's Test Centre in Dundalk, Co Louth, which tested the bus, were due to face charges under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.
However, the case has now been rescheduled for hearing on January 19th next because of the lack of a suitable courtroom and scheduling complications.
Sentencing of Bus Éireann and Meath County Council for offences related to the crash cannot be finalised until the court case is completed.
A spokesman for the Courts Service last night said there was a limit on the number of Circuit Court cases, which usually take two to five days, that can be heard in one day, and that when a case that may run for three to four weeks comes up, it is difficult to find court space.
He said that the Courts Service was aware of the current limitations, but was working proactively to address the issue.
He added that new court facilities would open in Dublin both later this year and in 2010.
The delay in the hearing into the crash has caused much anger and disappointment among locals in the Navan area.
Gerry Frawley, whose daughter was injured in the crash, said the delay in the hearing would have dire consequences for those seeking closure on the incident.
"They have disregarded the feelings and the hurt felt by the people involved in this crash, and there is still a lot of people, a lot of parents and a lot of children who want to know what happened," he told RTÉ television's Six-One News.
