Passenger expresses guilt as bus driver loses job after confronting thief
A passenger who had her necklace stolen during a bus journey in north-west London has spoken out in defence of the driver who retrieved it, stating he did not deserve to be sacked for his actions. The incident, which occurred on the 206 route between Wembley and Maida Vale, has sparked significant public debate and political attention.
Confrontation on the bus
Katalin Kaszas, aged 46, described the moment a young man grabbed her necklace as she was boarding the bus. "He just grabbed my necklace and ran with it," she told the Press Association. "I saw Mark running out, running after the guy." The driver, Mark Hehir, aged 62, successfully chased down the thief and returned the jewellery to Ms Kaszas.
However, the situation escalated when the thief returned to the bus. Ms Kaszas recalled feeling threatened, saying, "He looked very, very shifty, I did not feel comfortable at all." She described seeing a punch, the man falling to the floor with blood, and then calling the police. Mr Hehir restrained the individual on the pavement until authorities arrived.
Employment tribunal ruling and public support
Despite a police case review concluding that Mr Hehir had used proportionate and necessary force in defence of himself and the passenger, an employment tribunal upheld Metroline's decision to dismiss him. The tribunal heard that the incident took place on June 25, 2024, and that Mr Hehir acted in self-defence, knocking the thief unconscious with a single blow.
In response, more than 125,000 people have signed a petition supporting Mr Hehir, and a GoFundMe page has raised over £28,000 for him. Ms Kaszas expressed her guilt over the outcome, stating, "I felt that it was my fault – I caused all this." She emphasised, "If he doesn't do what he did, anything could have happened to me."
Political reactions and calls for apology
Justice Secretary David Lammy addressed the House of Commons on Tuesday, declaring, "Mark is of course a hero and deserves our support." He added that he is following the case closely. Meanwhile, shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan, who invited Mr Hehir to parliament, criticised Metroline, saying, "I think Metroline need to come out and apologise, Mark deserves an apology, it's quite clear they've gotten this wrong."
A Metroline spokesperson maintained their position, stating, "The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair." Mr Hehir, originally from Limerick, Ireland, and now residing in north-west London, faces an uncertain future despite the widespread backing from the public and political figures.
