Sentence hearing adjourned for five convicted school bus operators

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Central Criminal Court has adjourned sentencing for five Tipperary men convicted of colluding to drive up school bus tender prices. Judge David Keane set July 6 for the next hearing after receiving submissions at a sentencing hearing on Monday.

The jury unanimously convicted Raymond Heney, Andrew Walsh, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey and Anthony Flynn last December. Their trial concerned allegations that they coordinated bids for school transport routes; all five had pleaded not guilty.

Defence lawyers told the court that Browne and Hickey had cardiac complications, while counsel for Heney said he accepted the jury’s verdict. Walsh wished to apologise for engaging in the offences, his lawyer said.