"It is clear to this court he suffers along with the rest of the community," Cessnock magistrate Robyn Richardson said on Tuesday.
That suffering and other mental health concerns played on the magistrate's mind as she granted bail to the man allegedly responsible for the nation's worst road disaster in decades.
At the time of Sunday's crash, Button had been taking dozens of wedding guests from a lush Hunter Valley estate to the groom and bride's hometown of Singleton.
He lost control while turning through a roundabout on an overpass.
Police, who opposed Button's release on 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, said they'd mounted a strong prosecution case that showed he took the roundabout far too quickly.
Some of the survivors had given evidence of his "prolonged" behaviour before the bus tipped and slammed into a guard rail, the court was told.
The prospect Button could interfere with those witnesses or other survivors not yet interviewed by police was a primary concern aired in his bail application.
Further charges were likely, including to address the serious injuries to two passengers receiving intensive care in Newcastle.
The prosecution also alleged he was at an unacceptable risk of fleeing the state, given the "inevitability" of a jail term if convicted.
Those hypotheticals were downplayed by lawyer Chris O'Brien, who pointed to Button's strong ties to the local community and proposed bail conditions.
A $10,000 surety and promises to steer clear of witnesses and obey a nightly curfew were put forward on the driver's behalf.
The driver had a clean criminal record and only a handful of blemishes on his 30-year driving record, Mr O'Brien said.
Button also needed treatment in the community for medical issues not detailed in court, and likely faced waiting at least 18 months before a trial could begin.
"Whilst concerns are alive and exist, there are bail conditions which can ameliorate them," Mr O'Brien said.
The magistrate agreed, dismissing the police suggestion the risk was unacceptable while noting the grief the incident had caused to the community.
"The (legal) principle ... is bail is not to be denied as a punishment - determination of sentence is an entirely different issue," Ms Richardson said.
Button cannot drink alcohol or drive whilst on bail.
He has not yet entered pleas to the charges.
"He's happy to be going home ... in all of the circumstances, he's holding up very well," Mr O'Brien told reporters outside court.
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