More charges are being brought against Bus Éireann over the Kentstown bus crash in Co Meath a district court in Navan heard yesterday.
Five teenage girls died and dozens more were injured when their school bus overturned at Mooretown, Navan, on May 23rd last year.
Bus Éireann is already facing a summons alleging that the bus was a danger to the public - because of a known defect, which could have been discovered, if proper checks had been carried out.
The case was adjourned in February after the court heard further charges were being considered by the DPP.
A date for hearing was due to be fixed yesterday, but State Solicitor for Co Meath, Vincent O'Reilly told Judge John Brophy that he was seeking an adjournment as the Health and Safety Authority investigation is now complete and the DPP had issued directions in relation to additional charges.
Mr O'Reilly said the file is "absolutely enormous" and that in his 25 years as State Solicitor he has never come across a more complex investigation. Judge John Brophy said in his view it is not fair on the parents of the five schoolgirls and their immediate families, or the parents and survivors of the crash, that the case has been hanging over them for a year.
The judge asked if the HSA prosecution would be "before the Circuit Court and jury" but Mr O'Reilly said he would prefer not to indicate that at this stage. He initially sought an adjournment so that all the cases will be dealt with together.
Judge Brophy said he would wait to see what new charges are brought before making a decision on whether or not to refuse jurisdiction and send the summons currently before him forward to the Circuit Court.
In agreeing to adjourn the case to June 14th for mention, Judge Brophy apologised to the families of the victims for the delay and added: "There is nothing I can do."