A London bus passenger whose necklace was violently snatched has expressed profound distress after learning the driver who heroically intervened to recover her jewellery and protect her subsequently lost his job. Katalin Kaszas has described feeling "so guilty" about the dismissal of driver Mark Hehir, 62, who was sacked by operator Metroline following the confrontation in north-west London.
Incident Details and Escalation
The altercation occurred on June 25, 2024, while Mr Hehir was operating the 206 bus route between Wembley and Maida Vale. Ms Kaszas recounted the moment a young man pushed past her as she boarded, grabbing her necklace and fleeing. "I saw Mark running out, running after the guy," she said, detailing how Mr Hehir successfully retrieved the jewellery.
However, the situation intensified when the thief returned towards Ms Kaszas. "The guy was coming up… I was like 'No, no, no, stay away from me'. He looked very, very shifty, I did not feel comfortable at all," she explained. "I would say I even felt threatened, so I was backing away, and that's when Mark realised that something is not right here and he stepped in."
Violent Confrontation and Aftermath
Mr Hehir knocked the man unconscious with a single punch and restrained him on the pavement until police arrived. Both men were arrested, but authorities later confirmed Mr Hehir would face no further action. A police case review concluded: "The claimant had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger."
Despite this finding, an employment tribunal upheld Metroline's decision to dismiss Mr Hehir, even while acknowledging he had acted in self-defence. A company spokesperson stated: "The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair."
Passenger's Anguish and Public Backlash
Ms Kaszas responded with shock to the tribunal's ruling. "I think it was unjust. I don't think (Mr Hehir) deserved that," she asserted. "If he doesn't do what he did, anything could have happened to me. I felt so guilty. I felt that it was my fault – I caused all this."
The case has ignited substantial public and political support for the former driver. More than 125,000 people have signed a petition demanding justice, while a GoFundMe page has raised over £28,000. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy publicly branded Mr Hehir "a hero" during House of Commons proceedings, adding: "I'm following this case very closely."
Political Support and Personal Toll
Shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan echoed this sentiment, stating: "I think Metroline need to come out and apologise, Mark deserves an apology, it's quite clear they've gotten this wrong." Mr Hehir, originally from Limerick but living in north London, was invited to Parliament to watch proceedings from the public gallery.
The incident left Mr Hehir hospitalised for six days after being bitten during the struggle, requiring two operations due to infection. "I spent six days in hospital – I got an infection in my arm, I had to have two operations, while still working for the company under their pay. No-one ever rang to ask how I was," he revealed. "I ended up in ICU, I had two operations on my hand because of the infection, I was very, very close to losing my hand."
Driver's Perspective and Future
Mr Hehir, who had worked as a London bus driver for two years, said the ordeal had tarnished a job he loved. He does not consider himself a hero despite the overwhelming public support. "I've always felt I was justified in my actions, and it just seems that 99.5% of people agree with me," he noted. "I'm actually looking for negative responses, and I just can't find any."
Since his dismissal, Mr Hehir has found employment in a Wembley pub with assistance from a friend. The case continues to raise significant questions about employer responsibilities, passenger safety, and the consequences of intervention in criminal acts on public transport.
