Courts / Tipperary / Report
Jury unanimously convicts school bus operators of colluding to drive prices higher
Summary
A jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously convicted five men from Tipperary of colluding to inflate tender prices for school bus services in the south west of Ireland. The defendants—Raymond Heney, Andrew Walsh, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey and Anthony Flynn—were alleged to have coordinated bids for routes supplied by Bus Éireann, which handled 10% of school routes while contractors managed the remaining 90%. The prosecution argued that the men's concerted practice, led by Heney, aimed to prevent, restrict or distort competition, thereby affecting taxpayers and the Department of Education's €163 million budget for 2015. Each defendant pleaded not guilty. The court remanded all five on continuing bail pending a sentencing hearing on 23 March 2026. The case was brought by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions. The trial focused on the alleged coordination and exchange of information among the operators, rather than any formal agreement.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury unanimously convicts school bus operators of colluding to drive prices higher. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 23, 2026 Adjournment
- November 1, 2014 Other
- December 31, 2016 Other
- 2025-12-18 Publication
Why: " The jury heard that Heney would arrange to hold meetings in order to provide services and assistance in dealing with administrative processes in bidding for tenders. CNI source report
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