Date set for trial of Dublin bus tragedy driver
The trial of the Bus Atha Cliath driver charged in connection with the deaths of five people has been fixed for April 24 next year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Kenneth Henvey, (aged 48), Whitethorn Crescent, Clondalkin, is charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of five people at Wellington Quay on February 21, 2004.
He has been remanded on continuing bail until his trial date.
Judge Desmond Hogan was told by defence counsel that they were not yet ready to look for a trial date and were seeking outstanding disclosure in the form of videotapes. He was also told that the defence may wish to stage a reconstruction of the accident.
Judge Hogan said the case had had ample time and said he would bring matters "to a head" by fixing a trial date.
Mr Patrick McGrath BL, prosecuting, told Judge Hogan the case would last for up to three weeks and over 100 witnesses would be called.
The trial was originally scheduled for Wednesday this week (July 13, 2005) but was postponed after defence counsel, Mr Michael O’Higgins SC, told the court on April 18 this year that the defence team had a "genuine apprehension" that it will not be ready for a July trial.
Mr O’Higgins told Judge Hogan that Mr Henvey’s legal team had uncovered what he called "very, very specific technical leads into what might have caused the accident".
Mr O’Higgins told Judge Hogan that the new issues uncovered have to be investigated further and that the July date did not give the defence team enough time to do so.
He said that while Bus Atha Cliath had conducted a strong internal investigation involving substantial expertise into the accident, Mr Henvey’s legal team was also going to recruit the services of experts from the United Kingdom
