Female bus driver shot with air gun in Limerick city

The National Bus and Rail Union has condemned an incident during which a female bus driver was shot with an air gun on the 303 bus in Limerick city shortly after midday.

Gardaí and Bus Éireann are investigating.

A spokesperson for Bus Éireann confirmed that following an incident in the O’Malley Park area of Limerick on a route 303 service between Kilmallock Road and Pineview this afternoon, services in the area have been suspended.

“This matter has been referred to An Garda Síochána and Bus Éireann will provide any assistance required, including making CCTV available to Gardaí,” the spokesperson said.

“Our driver is reported to have received minor injuries and has been taken to hospital as a precaution,” they said.

NBRU Senior National Executive Member, Stephen Nugent described the incident as “disgraceful and extremely dangerous”.

Mr Nugent said that “a female Bus Éireann driver who had only began her second week of operating bus services for Bus Éireann was approached by a gang of youths at a bus stop”.

“They refused to pay their fare and began threatening the bus driver to let them on board the service,” Mr Nugent said.

“The driver became very frightened and intimidated by the gang and decided to let them on, when leaving the bus one member of the gang produced an air gun and shot the female driver in the face hitting her just below the eye.”

Mr Nugent said that local NBRU representatives had requested that Bus Éireann immediately withdraw services in the affected area “until such time that assurances on Safety are forthcoming”.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said that “Gardaí in Roxboro Road were alerted to an incident in O’Malley Park, Southill, Limerick on a bus this afternoon at approximately 12.10pm.”

“The female bus driver, aged in her 30s was assaulted by a number of youths but did not require immediate medical attention,” the spokesperson said, adding that “investigations are ongoing”.

“Bus Éireann does not tolerate anti-social or criminal behaviour towards our customers or staff. As this matter has been brought to the attention of Gardaí we are not in a position to provide any additional information on this specific incident,” a spokesperson said.

Mr Nugent said that this incident “once again demonstrates the immediate requirement for the long-standing call from the NBRU for a dedicated Garda Public Transport Unit to be established”.