Three investigations were under way last night into the circumstances surrounding the crash of a Bus Éireann school bus in Co Meath yesterday evening in which five schoolgirls died. Carl O'Brien, Tim O'Brien and Michael O'Regan report.
Several other students were seriously injured in the crash, six critically.
Investigators from the Health and Safety Authority, the Garda and Bus Éireann were examining the wreckage and the scene of the accident in a bid to determine how the almost 13-year-old bus turned on its side near a temporary traffic light at a road works site.
The Garda said last night the area was a possible crime scene.
The crash happened at around 4.15pm as the bus was bringing home more than 50 students from various secondary schools in Navan.
Bus Éireann confirmed there were no seat-belts on the bus. A spokeswoman said there was no requirement for vehicles of this size to be fitted with them.
Niall O'Connor, a spokesman for Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, said the absence of seat-belts may have "potentially contributed to the seriousness of the injuries".
Local Fianna Fáil TD Mary Wallace said last night she understood the Department of Education had been looking at the issue of seat-belts on school buses for some time.
The five girls who died, thought to be aged between 13 and 16, were pupils of the St Michael's Loreto Convent in Navan. They were all believed to have been sitting at the back of the bus, which appeared to take the worst of the impact.
The accident occurred near Casey's Cross, about two miles from Navan.
Ten minutes earlier the bus had collected students from St Michael's Loreto Convent, St Joseph's Mercy Convent, St Patrick's Classical School and Beaufort College in Navan on its daily route to Kentstown, Beauparc, Yellow Furze and the Boyne Road.
The accident happened beside a stone cottage, which ambulance personnel and emergency medical technicians from the Health Service Executive (North East) turned into a makeshift triage centre.
Helicopters ferried in medical teams from other regions but by the time they had arrived the seriously injured had already been taken to hospital. One garda at the scene said there was "total and utter pandemonium" with the injured being taken to hospitals in people's cars, as well as in ambulances.
There were harrowing scenes at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda last night where relatives of the dead and injured gathered.
The dead were named locally last night as Sinéad Ledwidge, Amy McCabe, Deirdre Scallon, Claire McCluskey, and Lisa Callan. It is understood that all are from the area of Yellow Furze and Beauparc, around five miles from Navan.
Distraught locals gathered in the local church last night to offer prayers for the dead and injured. Six other students were in critical condition in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
The accident happened on a straight stretch of road, the main artery between Navan and Kentstown, which was being resurfaced by Meath County Council. The crash involved two cars as well as the bus. The drivers of all three vehicles were being treated in hospital last night.
Meath County Council's major emergency plan was activated after the accident and at least 14 ambulances and five units of fire brigade rushed to the scene from Meath, Drogheda and Dublin. Four Air Corps helicopters airlifted medical personnel to the scene. A total of 26 people were brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda last night, and a further 27 to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.
The President and the Taoiseach last night expressed their shock at the tragedy and offered their condolences to the relatives. Minister for Transport Martin Cullen cut short a visit to Moscow for a meeting of European transport ministers and returned home.
He said the accident would be thoroughly investigated. Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has arranged for the National Educational Psychological Service to provide support to those affected.