A London bus driver has been dismissed after chasing and knocking out a man who stole a passenger’s necklace, sparking a heated debate over whether he acted heroically or recklessly.
Mark Hehir was driving the 206 bus in northwest London on 25 June 2024 when a man boarded and snatched a necklace from a female passenger. According to an employment tribunal, Mr Hehir left the bus in pursuit and successfully retrieved the jewellery.
The thief then returned to the bus and threw the first punch at Mr Hehir, who struck back in self-defence, knocking the man unconscious. Mr Hehir dragged the man onto the pavement and restrained him for almost half an hour until the police arrived.
Police later released Mr Hehir without charge, stating he would face no further action. Despite this, he was suspended by Metroline the following day and required to attend a disciplinary hearing.
Allegations against him included bringing the company into disrepute by physically assaulting a passenger and leaving the bus unattended with the engine running. At the hearing, Mr Hehir defended his actions, stating he acted instinctively and left the doors open with the handbrake engaged. He also explained that he restrained the thief because the female passenger was frightened and he feared the man might act violently if allowed to get up.
A police email disclosed at the hearing supported Mr Hehir’s account, stating that the detective believed he had used force that was “proportionate and necessary” in defence of himself and the passenger.
However, Metroline’s operations manager, Alina Gioroc, argued the man had returned intending to apologise and shake hands. She described the half-hour restraint as “excessive” and “disproportionate,” supporting the decision to dismiss Mr Hehir without notice.
The tribunal in Watford sided with the company, ruling that Metroline acted within its rights. It concluded that the disciplinary managers’ belief that Mr Hehir committed gross misconduct was reasonable and fell “within the band of reasonable responses open to an employer.”
A Metroline spokesperson said: “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 has sparked divided public opinion, with some praising Mr Hehir as a hero, while others argue his actions endangered both himself and passengers.
