LAST UPDATE | 12 Jul

A BUS ÉIREANN driver was shot with an air gun while sitting behind the wheel of the vehicle in Limerick City today, according to workers’ union Siptu.

According to the union, a group of young passengers boarded the vehicle at the last stop and began firing an air gun at the driver while she was still inside the cab. Siptu says the incident left the driver with a bruising at the side of her eye.

The incident has lead to the union to call on stakeholders to work towards introducing a police unit focused on curtailing anti-social behaviour on public transport.

The driver recieved medical attention and has reported the incident to Gardaí. In a statement this evening gardaí confirmed that members in Roxboro Garda Station were alerted to the incident and attended the scene.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was assaulted but did not require immediate medical attention, the gardaí said. “Investigations are ongoing,” a spokesperson added.

Siptu’s Transport Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “The time for words of concern on the issue of the increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence on our public transport system is now over.”

“We need real action by the Government to ensure that the public transport system is a safer place for workers and passengers,” he added.

Siptu say while today’s incident is “shocking”, it is also unsurprising as the union claims there has been a rise in the number of incidents relating to anti-social activity on public transport recently.

Kane called on unions representing transport workers, the companies and operators of the services, the National Transport Authority and officials from the Department of Transport and Department of Justice to establish a working group to tackle the issue.

Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny has expressed his frustration with the incident. The party’s transport spokesperson said the Government must establish a public transport policing division.

“In the meantime, we need to see a rollout of anti-assault screens around the driver cab on all Bus Éireann buses. Despite the use of these screens across Dublin Bus, they have not been installed on the Bus Éireann’ fleet,” the Sligo-Leitrim TD said.

Fellow Sitpu Organiser, Andrew Quigley said: “The member has been traumatised by the incident as the airgun closely resembled a real firearm and she feared for the worse when she was shot.”

Quigley said it is “deeply unfair” that passengers cannot travel in safety.