Belfast 'party bus’ carrying 15 women had defective lights and brakes, court hears

Prosecutors revealed a series of faults as its owner and the company he runs were fined more than £4,000 in total.

Darren Crozier, 39, of Kylemore Bend in Newtownabbey, and Belfast Party Crew Ltd both admitted using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

They also pleaded guilty to further offences related to the bus being operated without the proper licences.

Charges were brought following Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) checks carried out on August 19 last year.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the pink party bus was stopped on the Forthriver Road as it transported 15 female passengers towards the city centre.

With no Public Service Vehicle (PSV) or bus operator licences in place, the vehicle was seized due to the driver being uninsured.

Crozier, director of Belfast Party Crew, subsequently attended DVA offices to confirm it belonged to him.

A prosecution barrister set out a series of defects identified during subsequent examinations of the bus.

“A fuel cap was missing, a driver’s door latch was loose or insecure, a warning device for the rear emergency exit door was defective, a rear taillight was defective,” he said.

Another problem was discovered with the lock-brake warning system, while a separate issue with a foot pedal meant it crept to the floor when pressure was applied.

Further assessments revealed faults to an indicator and brake light, a twisted brake hose and loose rear view mirror.

“The mirrored glass angle was continually dropping down towards the ground, causing the driver to have insufficient visibility to the offside rear of the vehicle,” counsel explained.

He added: “During a road test the vehicle’s brakes locked up on application of the brake pedal, causing the vehicle to skid.

“Steering became uncontrollable, indicating that the anti-lock braking system was defective.”

The court heard Crozier had reported the issue to a mechanic who was unable to find any fault with the system.

Prosecutions were brought against him and the company, with a listed address at Royal Avenue in Belfast, over the condition of the bus and licensing failures.

The man who was driving the vehicle when it was stopped, 50-year-old Glenn Keatings of Forthill Gardens in Newtownabbey, has already been fined £325 for not having the correct licence or insurance.

Neither Crozier nor anyone representing the company attended court on Tuesday for their sentencing hearing.

Imposing a total of £4,100 fines on the two defendants, District Judge George Conner said: “I will give credit for the pleas that were (already) entered.”