Sacked bus driver wants apology

A bus driver — sacked for punching a thief that had stolen a necklace from a female passenger — has said he would not want his job back, but would like an apology and compensation for lost earnings.

Mark Hehir was driving the 206 bus between Wembley and Maida Vale in June 2024 when the incident unfolded.

Bus operator Metroline said Mr Hehir’s use of force was ‘excessive’, after the thief, who was shown on CCTV (closed-circuit television) to have thrown the first punch, was knocked unconscious.

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition supporting the reinstatement of the 62-year-old driver, whose dismissal, upheld by a tribunal, took place in November 2025.