Fines totalling €2.2 million have been imposed on Bus Éireann, Meath County Council and Keltank Ltd for breaches of health and safety legislation arising out of the 2005 bus crash in which five Meath schoolgirls died.
Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court fined Bus Éireann €2 million; Meath County Council €100,000, and Keltank - a family run garage in Balbriggan that serviced the school bus - €100,000.
They had pleaded guilty to various charges following what was described as a "comprehensive and exhaustive investigation" into the accident.
The five schoolgirls were killed instantly in what prosecuting counsel Mr Brendan Grehan SC described as a "tragic road accident" that happened four miles outside Navan on May 23rd, 2005, were Claire McCluskey (18), Deirdre Scanlon (17), Lisa Callan (15), Aimee McCabe (15) and Sinead Ledwidge (15).
Another 46 schoolchildren, including Rachel McGovern who was still trapped under the bus when emergency crews arrived; a motorist in another vehicle; and the bus driver, Mr John Hubble, were injured.
Responding to the court ruling, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said it hoped the conclusion of the Navan Bus Crash trial will result in better safety standards in the public transport sector.
HSA Chief Executive Martin O'Halloran said he hoped transport companies would now "re-examine the systems they have in place to ensure that vehicles are maintained to the highest standards of safety".
"The size of the fines handed down today sends a clear signal to all industry, but especially to those in the transport sector, that health and safety cannot be compromised under any circumstances," he said.
Speaking following the trial, Meath Co Manager Tom Dowling said he accepted the decision of Justice McCartan, adding the authority did not intend to appeal the €100,000 fine he issued.
"It's a very very sad day for everybody concerned, and our sympathies are with the families, friends and relatives of the children that died in the crash. We will continue to miss them all because they lived in our community," he said.
Martin Nolan, chief operations officer with Bus Éireann, which was fined €2 million, said he wished to express the sorrow felt by the company and its employees following the incident.
"I know I speak for every member of staff in re-iterating our condolences to the bereaved families and to all who have been hurt by this tragedy.
"The safety of schoolchildren, and all customers, is the organisation's highest priority. The company remains committed to constantly improving safety to ensure that the people in our care are carried as securely as possible," Mr Nolan said.