A woman whose necklace was stolen by a bus passenger, who was subsequently knocked unconscious by the bus driver, expressed her deep gratitude for the driver’s intervention during a frightening incident.
Katalin Kaszas shared her experience at Parliament, where the driver, Mark Hehir, was invited by shadow justice minister Dr. Kieran Mullan. Hehir was dismissed from his position following the incident in June 2024.
Incident Details and Aftermath
Kaszas recounted how the thief snatched her necklace as she boarded the 206 bus in north-west London. Hehir, who pursued the thief, stated that he struck the man in self-defense after the thief attempted to hit him.
Metroline, Hehir’s employer, terminated his employment for gross misconduct, a decision later upheld by an employment tribunal. Kaszas explained that she initially thought the passenger was about to push her off the bus and only realized her necklace was gone when she looked down.
„Your brain doesn’t catch up that quick. You’re still trying to understand what’s happened,“ Kaszas remarked.
Feeling Unsafe After the Incident
After Hehir returned with her necklace, the thief approached her again. „I was screaming, telling him to stay away from me,“ Kaszas recalled, describing the situation as extremely frightening.
Hehir positioned himself between Kaszas and the assailant, providing her with a sense of security. „I’m a single mom. I’m the only one my daughter has. If something happens to me, it happens to her,“ she stated, expressing her concern for her safety.
Kaszas noted that since Hehir was no longer driving the bus, she felt less secure, fearing that future drivers might not take similar action to protect passengers.
Legal Proceedings and Public Support
CCTV footage presented during the tribunal showed the thief throwing a punch at Hehir, who instinctively retaliated. Both individuals were arrested following the altercation, which occurred between Wembley and Maida Vale. Hehir, originally from County Limerick and now residing in Wembley, was released without further police action.
Hehir was suspended from his duties the day after the incident and later dismissed. The tribunal heard from the Metropolitan Police, which stated that Hehir’s response was „proportionate and necessary in the circumstances.“ A spokesperson for Metroline confirmed that the Independent Employment Tribunal upheld the dismissal as fair, citing a breach of protocols designed to ensure the safety of staff and passengers.
Public Reaction and Support for Hehir
Dr. Kieran Mullan expressed his shock at Hehir’s dismissal for intervening to prevent a theft, stating, „That’s not good for our society.“ Justice Secretary David Lammy referred to Hehir as a hero deserving of support and mentioned that he was closely monitoring the case.
Kaszas, who resides in Neasden, expressed feelings of guilt regarding the incident and has repeatedly apologized to Hehir following the tribunal’s decision. „I know it’s not my fault,“ she said, „but I still feel guilty because I’m in the middle of everything.“
An online petition advocating for Metroline to reverse its decision or compensate Hehir has garnered over 125,000 signatures.
Bildquelle: Bildquelle: Wolfgang Weiser auf Unsplash
