The driver of a school bus that crashed in Co. Offaly resulting in the death of a 15-year-old boy says he was told the vehicle was scheduled for a service overhaul.

Ger Buckley is giving evidence in the trial of a Westmeath vehicle testing firm and the owners of the bus hire company.

O'Reilly Commercials Ltd of Ballinalach in Westmeath is charged with failing to note defects in the 1989 Mercedes bus when testing it in 2005.

The owners of Clara Cabs, Raymond and Ruairi McKeown, both of River St., Clara, Co Offaly are charged with failing to maintain the bus leading to the death of the school boy.

All charges are denied.

Today, bus driver, Ger Buckley, told the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the school bus was off the road for 10 to 12 weeks for engine repairs before he started driving it regularly in February 2006.

He said the Mercedes had 33 passenger seats but he would pick up about 35 students on the run to and from Killina Presentation School.

The court has heard about 2 weeks before the crash he informed his employers, the McKeowns that a student had heard banging from the back of the bus.

Ray McKeown would ask him every couple of days how the bus was handling and he would reply 'it seems to be going grand'.

''I was informed the school holidays were coming up and it would be going in for a service and an overhaul'' he told the jury.

He said the holidays were due about a week after the crash on April 4th.

'Saw the back axle coming away from the bus'

On the morning of the accident Ger Buckley described checking the lights and indicators were working on the bus before starting the school run.

He said driving down the bog road he heard a bit of a bang and saw the back axle coming away from the bus which swayed left and right before turning over.

He re-called breaking the door open and shouting at the students to get off the bus. 'Everyone was dazed and confused. Students were walking towards Rahan as if they were walking towards town', he said.

It was while ringing the emergency services that he noticed 15-year-old Michael White was lying under the bus.

The teenager suffered catastrophic injuries and died.

Under cross examination Ger Buckley was questioned about certain students evidence that the bus was leaning to one side prior to the crash.

Asked if he could explain the lopsided tilt, he replied that he couldn't.