Bus Éireann suspends services after driver shot in the face in Limerick

The woman was left “traumatised” by the incident, according to Siptu representative Andrew Quigley, given “the airgun closely resembled a real firearm and she feared for the worst when she was shot”.

She was subsequently taken to hospital for precautionary treatment.

Mr Quigley said the incident could have been much worse adding only luck prevented the driver from being hit in the eye. He said some of the youths involved in the incident were “mere children”.

Bus Éireann said it has referred the incident, which occurred in the O’Malley Park area of the city, to gardaí and “will provide any assistance required, including making CCTV available to gardaí”.

“Bus Eireann services have currently been removed from the area as the gardaí investigate,” a spokesperson said.

“Bus Eireann does not tolerate antisocial or criminal behaviour towards our customers or staff,” the spokesperson said, adding that given the matter is now with the gardaí further comment would be inappropriate.

Siptu has called for “urgent action” to combat anti-social behaviour on public transport following the incident, with divisional organiser Adrian Kane that real action is required in order to make the system safer for passengers.

He said the Taoiseach should create a stakeholder working group for the purpose of introducing a transport police service focused “on curtailing the worsening level of antisocial behaviour on our public transport system”.

Mr Quigley said it is deeply unfair that at present “passengers in every community across the country cannot travel in safety”.

“It is the duty of the forces of law and order to protect all our people so they can go about their day without the fear of violence. The Government needs to take action now,” he said.