The owner of a seriously defective bus which took 30 people to a Neil Diamond concert was fined €400 yesterday.
Mr Tommy Roche's 20-year- old DAF bus, which had more than 900,000 km on the clock, had its left rear suspension tied to the rear axle by a piece of nylon rope. The rear axle was out of alignment with the front axle and it was too dangerous for a public service vehicle inspector to test drive.
Garda John Keyes said when he stopped and seized the bus at Northumberland Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin, it had just taken 30 people from Wexford to a Neil Diamond concert.
Garda Michael Tracey, vehicle inspector, said the axle had been welded previously "in a very poor standard of work".
This had helped it pass its Department of Environment test the previous year but the rope used to tie the suspension appeared to have been in place for some time.
Judge Clare Leonard, who was shown photos of the bus undercarriage, said she was "horrified".
"I think he is extremely lucky he is not before the courts on something much more serious."
Mr Roche's solicitor, Mr Aidan Collins, said repairs to the bus had since been carried out.