Assurances given over bus ABS systemsBus Éireann has said it can guarantee that where ABS brake systems are present on buses, they are operational, writes Fiona Gartland.
The company was responding to a report on RTÉ that raised questions about the ABS system on the bus involved in the accident near Navan last May in which five schoolgirls died.
A Bus Éireann spokeswoman said she could not comment about the bus at the centre of the Navan investigation but could guarantee that where ABS is fitted on buses on the road, they are operational.
"If any faults are detected, either through a report from a driver, an inspector or through maintenance checks, the bus would be immediately removed from service until the fault is rectified," she said. "We also have an internal maintenance programme, the buses are checked and serviced every 12 weeks. On top of that there is a mandatory road worthiness test every year."
Funeral in London of Gerry Fitt
The funeral of Gerry Fitt, the former leader and founder of the SDLP, is being held in London today.
Lord Fitt ( 79), who suffered from a heart condition, died in England last week after several months of declining health.
The funeral is being held at Westminster Cathedral with a private family burial afterwards. Lord Fitt's five daughters and grand- children will all take a role in the service during which Danny Boy will be played. A piper from the Irish Guards will play a traditional lament as the coffin is carried from the cathedral.
Aircraft forced to land in Belfast
An aircraft carrying 71 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing at Belfast City Airport yesterday after developing engine trouble.
The Flybe flight to Liverpool landed safely after being forced to turn back to the airport when it developed technical problems 15 minutes into the flight.
A full emergency plan was put into place in the airport as a precautionary measure as the Q400 plane returned to the airport. A spokesman for the airport said the aircraft landed safely at around 9.27am. - (PA)
Ballymena school petrol bombed
A headmaster was yesterday sifting through charred debris following the latest attack on St Mary's primary school in Ballymena's Harryville area.
On returning to the school to prepare the curriculum for the year Martin Kearney was confronted with damage from a multiple petrol bomb attack. He said it was fortunate the five devices which caused damage to a library and canteen burned out. However, the library suffered severe smoke damage.
Mr Kearney said there were several arson attacks on the school in the late 1990s and also a live pipe bomb was left at it during the turmoil surrounding the loyalist picket at the nearby Harryville Catholic church.
St Mary's is due to close in the next few years as part of an amalgamation with another Catholic primary school in Ballymena. Only 50 pupils have enrolled for the new term compared to a high of 350 in the past.
Police said they believe the attack happened some time between 3pm on Monday and 9am yesterday and they put the damage at £1,000.