A London bus driver who was dismissed after chasing a thief to recover a passenger's stolen necklace has described his family's disbelief at the employment tribunal's decision to uphold his sacking.
Mark Hehir, 62, originally from Limerick but living in north-west London, was fired by Metroline following the incident. The tribunal ruling has sparked public outcry, with over 125,000 people signing a petition in his support and a GoFundMe page raising more than £28,000. Justice Secretary David Lammy has also backed Mr Hehir, calling him 'a hero'.
Speaking this week, Mr Hehir said he had not told his family in Ireland about the case to avoid worrying them, particularly his mother. He eventually informed his sister, who told him the news was 'breaking worldwide' and that their mother needed to know. His mother said she was 'very, very proud' but also upset he had not called her sooner.
Mr Hehir said he is seeking an apology and compensation for lost earnings from Metroline but does not wish to return to his former role. He described the process as 'lengthy' and said he was 'dumbfounded' by the tribunal's verdict, adding that it had 'taken two years out of your life'.
The passenger, Katalin Kaszas, 46, said she felt 'so guilty' after learning Mr Hehir had lost his job. Recalling the incident, she said the thief grabbed her necklace and ran, and Mr Hehir chased after him. When the thief returned to the bus, she felt threatened, and Mr Hehir intervened, leading to a physical altercation. Ms Kaszas said his actions were 'unjust' and that 'if he doesn't do what he did, anything could have happened to me'.
