Bus verdict

walshb

Well the trial is over and bizzarely Mr Henvey was cleared.
I think he should have been convicted and to use as his main defense 'I don't remember', which is what he has been saying for 3 years is just not good enough. That bus drove 30 metres after mounting a kerb, knocks down a post box and kills 5 people and his defence is 'I don't remember'.
The the red herrings are thrown in about 'power surges'.
If this was the case, no bus on earth would be allowed on the roads.

The actual bus was tested and found to be in perfect condition, but then some so called expert on Volvo buses submits the incorrect data from his tests and the jury clear the guy

Victor

This is already being discussed here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055056860 I think you comments are extremely biased.

Well the trial is over and bizzarely Mr Henvey was cleared.

But he was cleared.

I think he should have been convicted and to use as his main defense 'I don't remember', which is what he has been saying for 3 years is just not good enough.

Lack of memory is common among people who have experienced traumatic events.

That bus drove 30 metres after mounting a kerb, knocks down a post box

No it didn't, it travelled only a few metres on the footpath, although there were people on the road. I know nothing of a post box.

The the red herrings are thrown in about 'power surges'.

Well quite a few drivers appear to mention them.

The actual bus was tested and found to be in perfect condition, but then some so called expert on Volvo buses submits the incorrect data from his tests and the jury clear the guy

If that was the strongest case that could be presented, then what do you expect?

walshb

Ok, fair enough, but if you think driving a bus up onto a footpath and killing 5 people and knocking down a post box and yes it did travel 30 metres. This was proved in court and then for three years claim 'I don't know', or I can't remember is good enough?

Power surges, did any of these drivers who experienced so called power surges mount footpaths and travel 30 metres killing people. No they didn't and as far as I know Mr Henvey's bus did. The man was responsible and should have been able to control the bus. I think the powerr surge in this case was Mr Henvey. Red herrings is all this was by a desperate defence.
The bus mounted a kerb, this requires som extreme surge or accelleration, not a damn revving engine. It has to be driven. Now are you telling me that the bus took off without any human contact, that this bus has a mind of its own?

seamus

walshb wrote:

The bus mounted a kerb, this requires som extreme surge or accelleration, not a damn revving engine. It has to be driven. Now are you telling me that the bus took off without any human contact, that this bus has a mind of its own?

Ever driven an automatic? Any automatic vehicle would easily mount the kerb at Wellington Quay, from a standing start, with no human input. Add in a power surge, and it would very easily push past another bus and go for 30 metres.

DublinWriter

seamus wrote:

Ever driven an automatic? Any automatic vehicle would easily mount the kerb at Wellington Quay, from a standing start, with no human input. Add in a power surge, and it would very easily push past another bus and go for 30 metres.

I remember seeing a BBC documentary a few years ago about a particular brand of Ford automatic pickup sold in the US that had a software fault that would cause it to accelerate out of control.

But the key evidence in the documentary was that these events weren't an isolated incident. A number of cases occured.

However, the Wellington Quay incident was an isolated incident and considering Dublin Bus vehicles are the most utilised and driven on our roads today, a singular event like this that's claimed to be a fault in the design, basically, smells.

InFront

I find it really hard to know what to make of that situation, but obviously none of us have listened to all the legal arguments and deliberations the jury did, so you just have to have faith that justice prevailed and they judged well.
It would be interesting to think what difference it might have made had Volvo not messed up the first report though, if any.

walshb

Look, I'm not saying it's impossible as nothing is impossible if you want to be really difficult.But that driver to the best of my knowledge has shown little remorse for his actions, because if he did he would have been man enough to stand out himself after the verdict and say his peace. Now for three years to basically take the 5th ammendment and claim he can't remember and does not know is just not good enough. Then throw in power surges that other drivers say they experienced, without any real hard evidence except a drivers word does indeed smell. Has any other case in Ireland happened like this where a bus took off on its own, mounted a kerb and travelled 30 metres before the professional driver could find the brake?

This bus started off from 0mph. And still it travelled 30 metres. Power surge is a red herring in my opinion and it has been believed by the majority.
I wonder if that African man who drove up Henry street a few years back could have claimed a 'power surge'. Would he have been believed?

walshb

InFront wrote:

I find it really hard to know what to make of that situation, but obviously none of us have listened to all the legal arguments and deliberations the jury did, so you just have to have faith that justice prevailed and they judged well.
It would be interesting to think what difference it might have made had Volvo not messed up the first report though, if any.

Good point and Volvo should not be allowed get away with what comes down to criminal negligence on their part. To be so careless and reckless in such a serious and sensitive matter is utterly reprehensible.
Did our Gardai not thoroughly examine the crash bus and find nothing was wrong electrically or mechanically?

humanji

walshb wrote:

Now for three years to basically take the 5th ammendment and claim he can't remember and does not know is just not good enough.

He didn't basically take the 5th ammendment (which doesn't even apply in Ireland, does it?). He didn't remember. It happens a hell of a lot, when people are in horrific circumstances that they black it out. Unless you're a qualified psychologist and examined the man, then you're not really in a position to decide that he is lying.

But I do agree with the power surge thing sounding iffy. What I thought was the cause from a few news reports I saw, was that the bus was left in gear and lurched forward when it was started and in a panic the driver probably hit the accelorator instead of the break. I couldn't figure out where they suddenly got this power surge idea from.

But that's the way the legal sytem goes. We can only assume he's innocent, now that that's what the law has decided.

seamus

walshb wrote:

Because he knew in his heart that it was his fault for the crash.

You say this like you have proof. Care to offer it? He was found not guilty by a jury in a court. Anything saying otherwise is libel, including your statements like this;

Hence, he's responsible and should face the consequences.

Feel free to discuss the particulars of the case, but any statements about Mr. Henvey which contradict the opinion of the jury will be deleted.