'Hero' Bus Driver Demands Apology After Sacking Over Thief Chase
A bus driver hailed as a hero by the public after he chased down a thief to retrieve a passenger's stolen necklace has said he wants an apology from his former employer, but has no intention of returning to his job. Mark Hehir, 62, was dismissed by Metroline following the 2024 incident in north-west London, a decision that was recently upheld by an employment tribunal.
Public Outpouring of Support for Dismissed Driver
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for Mr Hehir's reinstatement or compensation, launched by shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan. Additionally, a GoFundMe page set up to support the former driver has raised over £20,000, demonstrating widespread public sympathy for his situation.
"I'd be very happy if Metroline made an apology and just admitted that they might have got it wrong," Mr Hehir told the Press Association. "I'd like them to compensate me for lost earnings, that's important, that they understand they got it wrong, that's important for me."
Incident Details and Serious Health Consequences
The incident occurred when Mr Hehir, originally from Limerick, Ireland, chased a thief who had stolen a passenger's necklace. When the thief returned, Mr Hehir knocked them out in what he describes as self-defence. The altercation had severe health consequences for the driver.
"I spent six days in hospital, because I got an infection from the guy's tooth," Mr Hehir explained. "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. I quote the surgeon, probably in the next three days if I didn't get it seen to at the time."
Criticism of Company Treatment and Working Conditions
Mr Hehir expressed disappointment with how Metroline treated him during his recovery. "Even in that time I was still employed by the company, not one person from the company, HR or anyone else, rang me to ask how I was, and I thought that was a disgrace," he said.
When asked if he would accept his job back, Mr Hehir was unequivocal: "Absolutely not, you cannot work for a company that treats its staff like that. I'm not saying they treat the drivers bad, I'm just saying if anything does happen, it's always the driver's fault, they'll come down on you heavy. You're on your own, you've created a situation, now you get out of it, there's no help."
Political Backing and Public Reaction
The case has attracted significant political attention. Shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan, shadow transport minister Richard Holden, and Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly, have written to Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan demanding "serious consideration of reinstatement or appropriate compensation."
Former prime minister Boris Johnson commented on social media platform X: "The sacking of a hero bus driver for knocking out a necklace thief says it all about the wet, woke, legalistic pettifoggers who run Starmer's Britain." Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick posted: "Metroline should reinstate Mark and apologise for their disgraceful conduct."
Driver's Perspective and Current Situation
Mr Hehir, who now works in a bar, described the overwhelming public response to his story. "I was in bed when my story went online. I didn't know what was going on, but then my phone just started popping, going crazy," he recalled.
Despite being widely praised, Mr Hehir doesn't consider himself a hero. "I've always felt I was justified in my actions, and it just seems that 99.5% of people agree with me," he said. "I'm actually looking for negative responses, and I just can't find any. I mean, everywhere there's thousands of messages."
Company Response and Tribunal Outcome
A Metroline spokesperson responded to the controversy by stating: "The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair." This legal validation of the company's decision stands in stark contrast to the overwhelming public and political support for Mr Hehir.
Mr Hehir acknowledged receiving some support from his union but noted "that can only go so far." He described driving a bus as "an underpaid tough job," highlighting the challenging conditions faced by many in the profession.
