A London bus driver hailed as a "hero" by members of the public has been dismissed from his job after he chased down and knocked out a man who stole a passenger's necklace, an employment tribunal has confirmed.
Incident on the 206 Bus Route
Mark Hehir had been employed as a bus driver for Metroline, operating services across the capital, for approximately two years prior to the incident. On June 25, 2024, Mr Hehir was driving the 206 bus route, which connects Wembley and Maida Vale in north-west London.
The tribunal heard evidence that a man boarded the bus, pushed past a female passenger, and then snatched a necklace from around her neck before fleeing the scene. In response, Mr Hehir pursued the individual down the street, successfully retrieved the jewellery, and returned it to the passenger.
Confrontation and Self-Defence
According to tribunal proceedings, the man subsequently reappeared and approached the bus. It was stated that he then threw "the first punch" at Mr Hehir. The driver responded in self-defence, striking the man once and rendering him unconscious.
Mr Hehir then dragged the individual to the pavement and restrained him for nearly thirty minutes. Both men were arrested by police, but Mr Hehir was later released and informed he would face no further criminal action.
Disciplinary Proceedings and Allegations
The day following the altercation, Mr Hehir was suspended from his duties and instructed to attend an internal investigation. A subsequent disciplinary hearing presented him with several allegations.
These included "bringing the company into disrepute by physically assaulting a passenger" and "failing to protect his and his passengers' safety by leaving the bus unattended with the engine running and chasing an assailant."
In his defence, Mr Hehir stated he had "acted instinctively" in pursuing the thief. He clarified that he had left the bus doors open and applied the handbrake before exiting the vehicle.
Conflicting Interpretations of Events
The hearing reviewed an email containing a case review note from Detective Constable Waddington, which indicated that "the claimant had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger."
Mr Hehir testified that when the man returned, the female passenger was frightened. He maintained that he restrained the individual on the ground because he feared the man would become aggressive if allowed to stand.
However, Alina Gioroc, an operations manager who presided over the disciplinary case, presented a different interpretation to the tribunal. She believed "that the (man) returned towards the bus with the clear intention to apologise and shake hands with the female passenger."
Ms Gioroc further contended that when the man attempted to shake hands, Mr Hehir pushed him away rather than stepping back himself, and that the man had not been aggressive until that point. She deemed the prolonged restraint an "excessive use of force and disproportionate."
Tribunal Upholds Dismissal
Ms Gioroc concluded that each allegation was substantiated and decided Mr Hehir should be dismissed without notice for gross misconduct. A tribunal held in Watford subsequently upheld this dismissal.
The tribunal ruled that "the genuine belief of the disciplinary and appeal managers that the claimant was guilty of gross misconduct was held on reasonable grounds and was within the band of reasonable responses open to an employer in the circumstances."
A spokesperson for Metroline stated: "The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair. The claimant breached protocols designed to keep staff and passengers safe, which is our priority."
The case highlights the complex balance between instinctive protective actions and strict adherence to corporate safety protocols within public transport roles.
