Sacked Bus Driver Seeks Apology After Thief Chase Leads to Dismissal
A bus driver hailed as a hero by the public has demanded an apology from his former employer after being sacked for chasing a thief who stole a passenger's necklace. Mark Hehir, 62, who worked in north-west London, was dismissed following the 2024 incident where he pursued the criminal and knocked them out in self-defence when they returned.
Public Outrage and Political Support
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. The campaign has gained significant traction, with a GoFundMe page raising over £20,000 to support the former driver. Mr Hehir described the public response as "incredible," noting that he struggles to find any negative feedback about his actions.
Politicians across party lines have backed Mr Hehir, including shadow transport minister Richard Holden and Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly. They have written to Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan urging "serious consideration of reinstatement or appropriate compensation." Former prime minister Boris Johnson commented on social media, criticising the decision as emblematic of "wet, woke, legalistic pettifoggers."
Driver's Perspective and Health Consequences
Mr Hehir, originally from Limerick, Ireland, stated he would be "very happy" if Metroline apologised and admitted they "might have got it wrong." He emphasised the importance of compensation for lost earnings but firmly rejected returning to his job, saying, "You cannot work for a company that treats its staff like that." He described bus driving as "an underpaid tough job" where drivers are often left to handle situations alone.
The incident had severe health repercussions for Mr Hehir. He spent six days in hospital with an infection from the thief's tooth, requiring two operations on his hand and nearly losing it. He expressed disappointment that no one from Metroline contacted him during his hospital stay, calling it "a disgrace."
Employment Tribunal Outcome and Company Response
An employment tribunal has upheld Metroline's decision to dismiss Mr Hehir as fair. A Metroline spokesperson confirmed, "The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair." However, Mr Hehir maintains that his actions were justified, with overwhelming public agreement. Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick has called for Metroline to reinstate Mr Hehir and apologise for their "disgraceful conduct."
Mr Hehir, who now works in a bar, reflected on the sudden attention when his story went viral, saying his phone "started popping, going crazy." Despite the support, he does not consider himself a hero, simply someone who acted appropriately in a difficult situation.
