A bus driver dismissed after intervening to retrieve a passenger's stolen necklace has said he would welcome an apology from his former employer, Metroline, but has no desire to return to his job. Mark Hehir, 62, was sacked after he chased a thief who snatched a passenger's necklace and knocked him out in self-defence. An employment tribunal upheld Metroline's decision to dismiss him.
Mr Hehir, originally from Limerick, Ireland, expressed gratitude for public support. He told the Press Association: 'I'd be very happy if Metroline made an apology and just admitted that they might have got it wrong.' He added that he would like compensation for lost earnings. When asked about returning, he said: 'Absolutely not, you cannot work for a company that treats its staff like that.'
The incident in 2024 left Mr Hehir severely injured, spending six days in hospital, including time in intensive care, and undergoing two operations on his hand due to an infection from the thief's tooth. He criticised Metroline for not contacting him during his hospital stay, though the company denies this, saying a voicemail was left.
An online petition, launched by shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan, calling for Mr Hehir's reinstatement or compensation has garnered over 100,000 signatures. A GoFundMe page has raised more than £20,000. Political figures including Boris Johnson and Robert Jenrick have criticised the dismissal, while Metroline maintains that the tribunal upheld the dismissal as fair.
