LEAVING Certificate exam work found on an isolated bog road in Co Roscommon last week most likely fell off a delivery truck, it emerged last night.
The package containing practical work for the engineering exam was mistakenly left on the truck when it made a delivery to the Department of Education's exams branch in Athlone.
Later, as the vehicle was passing through Co Roscommon, it fell out through a gap at the side of the canvas sided truck, according to a joint statement from the Department and Iarnrod Eireann last night.
The package was one of 27 delivered to the exams branch which was checked by Iarnrod Eireann at Athlone station, and then placed on the truck for delivery to the Department. On arrival, the itemised consignment was signed for as a unit.
"It now appears that the most likely occurrence was that only 26 of the packages were delivered. The remaining package probably remained in the truck, hidden from view," according to the statement.
The explanation helped ease the pressure on the Minister for Education yesterday. In response to a chorus of criticism from Opposition politicians and parents' representatives, Ms Breathnach had earlier called in gardai to investigate the disappearance.
The National Parents' Council, post primary, expressed "shock and outrage" that the work of eight students of Kilmuckridge community school in Co Wexford had turned up on a road.
The man who found the package, Mr Joe Fallon, said it was lucky the package had not fallen into the bog, otherwise it would not have been seen again for years.
