‘Hero’ bus driver says he did not tell his family in Ireland about tribunalBy Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press AssociationA London bus driver who was sacked after he chased down a thief to return a passenger’s stolen necklace has said he did not tell his family back in Ireland about the case. More than 125,000 people have signed a petition in support of Mr Hehir, which was launched after an employment tribunal upheld Metroline’s decision to sack the bus driver, a ruling first reported by the Press Association. In another sign of public support for him, a GoFundMe page for Mr Hehir has raised more than £28,000 (€32,460) and UK Justice Secretary David Lammy said that Mr Hehir is “a hero and deserves our support”. On Wednesday, Mr Hehir told RTÉ Radio that it had been a long process for him and he had been “dumbfounded” by the tribunal’s verdict. He said he did not tell his family back in Ireland because he did not want them worrying about him, particularly his mother.

Source: Irish Independent February 04, 2026 15:23 UTC