Case No. 0859Collusion in tender bidding · Co. Tipperary
Five Tipperary men await sentencing for colluding in schoolbus tender bidding
Five men from Tipperary, aged 52 to 79, were convicted in December 2025 by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of colluding to drive tender prices higher in the provision of schoolbus services through Bus Éireann. The men, who operated buses or taxi services bringing children to and from school in the southwest, were prosecuted by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions. At the sentencing hearing on 9 June 2026, defence counsel highlighted cardiac issues for two defendants and their lack of previous convictions. Judge David Keane adjourned the matter to 6 July 2026 to make a decision on sentencing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted9 Jun
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Five men from Tipperary were convicted of colluding to drive tender prices higher in the provision of schoolbus services through Bus Éireann.
- The men operated buses or taxi services bringing children to and from school in the southwest.
- The prosecution alleged the men discussed the allocation and pricing of schoolbus routes and that Raymond Heney arranged meetings to provide services and assistance in dealing with administrative processes in bidding for tenders.
- Bus Éireann derived 54 per cent of its turnover from school transport.
- Noel Browne and Larry Hickey had no previous convictions and both suffered from cardiac complications during the trial.
- Raymond Heney accepts the verdict and stated that he and his family have suffered a real financial loss as a consequence.
- Where
- All five defendants are from Tipperary.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court and prosecuted by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Judge David Keane adjourned the sentencing to 6 July 2026.
- When
- The jury returned its verdict in December 2025 and the defendants spent approximately three months in the criminal trial process.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFive men were convicted of colluding to drive tender prices higher in the provision of schoolbus services (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe men operated buses or taxi services bringing children to and from school in the southwest (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused were involved in bidding for tenders to provide schoolbus routes through Bus Éireann (irishtimes.com)
- whatBus Éireann derived 54 per cent of its turnover from school transport (irishtimes.com)
- whatRaymond Heney arranged meetings to provide services and assistance in dealing with administrative processes in bidding for tenders (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe prosecution alleged the people involved discussed the allocation and pricing of schoolbus routes (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoel Browne had significant cardiac issues and was allowed to remain at home for a portion of the trial (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrowne has no previous convictions and had been working for bus authorities since the late 1970s (irishtimes.com)
- whatLarry Hickey had no previous convictions and suffered from cardiac complications (irishtimes.com)
- whatHickey had more than 75 years of good standing in his community (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendants spent approximately three months in the criminal trial process (irishtimes.com)
- whatRaymond Heney accepts the verdict of the jury (irishtimes.com)
- whatHeney provided consultancy services which Bus Éireann accepted (irishtimes.com)
- whatHeney and his family have suffered a real financial loss as a consequence of the verdict (irishtimes.com)
- whatAndrew Walsh was a bus operator for many years and received no complaints about his service (irishtimes.com)
- whereAll five defendants are from Tipperary (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe CCPC and the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted the men (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge David Keane adjourned the matter to 6 July 2026 to make a decision on sentencing (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Jun2026‘Quite striking’ that two convicted in schoolbus tender case suffered heart attacks, court hears
Sentencing hearing details: defence counsel highlighted cardiac issues for two defendants (Browne and Hickey), no previous convictions, community standing, and financial impact; Judge Keane adjourned to 6 July 2026.
convicted, Raymond Heney, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Heneyconvicted, Andrew Walsh, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Walshconvicted, Noel Browne, 79, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Browneconvicted, Larry Hickey, 76, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry Hickeyconvicted, Anthony Flynn, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Flynn