oach operators cleared by court
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immonses against three operators ad run supporters to Wembley withroad service licence in May 1967 Barrow had reached the rugby Cup were dismissed with contributions to ant's costs in Barrow-in Furness last as recorded briefly in CM March 28. charges against Grange Tours and ce Motors Ltd., of Morecambe, and against Winn (Sportsman Coaches) 3f Whiston, near Prescot, had been it originally on January 26 1968 but agistrate had accepted the defence ;sion that a limited company could accused of "using" a motor vehicle. an appeal brought by the Northern Commissioners (CM December 6 the Queen's Bench Divisional Court Jed that such a sweeping submission -ong but when the evidence was heard
the magistrate's decision might turn out to be right. The hearing was continued before another three magistrates for evidence.
In 1967 Barrow had reached the cup semi-finals and a local paper advertisement had exhorted people to travel by coach to the Finals. On April 17 Florence and Grange had applied to the Commissioners for dispensation to operate but this had been refused, as had a later application.
Coach parties were organized and on the Friday May 12 departure of the vehicles was held up from 10 p.m. to midnight by the arrival of and questioning of passengers by Ministry enforcement officers.
The prosecution called a number of pas sengers, including the individual organizers, who said they had booked with works or pub parties and travelled in coaches owned by T. Ireland and Sons Ltd., J. Battersby and Sons Ltd., and T. Nelson and Sons Ltd. The latter companies testified that they had been paid direct in. cash by Mr. John Turnough, travel agent, who acts for Florence and Grange.
For these two defendants Mr. J. A. Backhouse submitted that it had not been proved that these were not genuine private parties and any offence was not one of "using" but of "permitting". The magistrates dismissed the charges and awarded £30 towards costs.
In connection with the three summonses against Winn who had operated its own coaches, the magistrates ruled there was a case to answer but when no evidence was offered, they dismissed the charges and awarded £20 towards its costs.
Nine summonses alleging aiding and abetting against Mr. Turnough were also dismissed.