Courts / Tipperary / Report
School bus anti-competition trial not the stuff of 'Hollywood' but does affect everyone, prosecution tell jury
Summary
The trial of five school bus operators accused of anti-competition practices is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Andrew Walsh, Raymond Heney, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey, and Anthony Flynn, all from County Tipperary, have pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002. The prosecution alleges that between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, the defendants engaged in a concerted practice to prevent, restrict, or distort competition in school transport services across Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway, and Waterford. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn told the jury that the accused allegedly coordinated their bidding behavior, including holding meetings to discuss route allocation and pricing, and submitting non-genuine bids to elevate tender prices. He stated that this alleged collusion removed true competitiveness from the process, which affects the public. The case is being brought by the Competition Authority, with evidence including documents, text messages, and expert testimony expected. The jury must determine if a concerted practice occurred and if each defendant was involved. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice David Keane and is expected to last up to six weeks. The matter continues before the court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: School bus anti-competition trial not the stuff of 'Hollywood' but does affect everyone, prosecution tell jury. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- November 1, 2014 Other
- December 31, 2016 Other
- 2025-11-06 Publication
Why: Mr McGinn said that one of the accused would arrange to hold meetings in hotels and other venues in order to provide services and assistance in dealing with administrative processes. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Defendant
Applicant
Defendant
Defendant
Defendant
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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