London bus driver sacked over clash with robber
A tribunal has upheld dismissal of driver who confronted thief in north-west London
A London bus driver has been dismissed following a confrontation with a man who stole a passenger's necklace during a journey in north-west London.
Mark Hehir, who had worked for Metroline for around two years, was driving the 206 bus route between Wembley and Maida Vale on 25th June 2024 when the incident occurred.
According to a tribunal, a man boarded the bus and shoved past a female passenger before snatching a necklace from around her neck and fleeing.
Mr Hehir chased the individual on foot, retrieved the necklace, and returned it to the passenger.
However, the situation escalated when the man returned to the bus and, according to the hearing, threw the first punch at Mr Hehir. Acting in self-defence, Mr Hehir struck the man once, knocking him unconscious, and then restrained him on the pavement for nearly half an hour.
Both individuals were arrested, though Mr Hehir was released without further police action after the Metropolitan Police determined the force used was proportionate and necessary under the circumstances.
Suspension followed the day after the event, with Mr Hehir attending a disciplinary hearing. Allegations included “bringing the company into disrepute by physically assaulting a passenger” and “failing to protect safety by leaving the bus unattended with the engine running.”
Alina Gioroc, the operations manager adjudicating the case, stated that her view was the man returned to the bus to apologise or shake hands with Mr Hehir and the female passenger, and was not initially aggressive. She found the restraint lasting nearly 30 minutes an excessive use of force and disproportionate.
The tribunal, held in Watford, upheld the decision of Metroline to dismiss Mr Hehir without notice for gross misconduct, concluding the employer's response fell “within the band of reasonable responses open to an employer in the circumstances.”