LAST UPDATE | 18 Jul

BUS ÉIREANN HAS suspended service through two areas in Limerick city due to antisocial behaviour suffered by their drivers in recent days and a union representative has said the chances of services resuming any time soon are slim. 

The route 303 service has been suspended in O’Malley Park and Carew Park in the Southill area until further notice, Bus Éireann said in a statement yesterday.

The company is continuing to investigate an incident that occurred in the O’Malley Park area last Friday, when a bus driver was shot with an airgun. The driver received minor facial injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Following that incident, local Labour councilor Conor Sheehan told The Journal that it was time to introduce transport police to try and curtail antisocial behaviour, a sentiment echoed by union representatives. 

A Bus Éireann spokesperson said another incident occurred on route 303 at Carew Park on Sunday, “where a number of youths confronted our driver whilst in service”.

“This unacceptable incident involved a small number of youths boarding the bus and confronting the driver and then exiting the bus and subsequently impeding the progress of the service for a very brief period of time.”

“Bus Éireann does not tolerate antisocial or criminal behaviour towards our customers or staff.” 

Some media outlets have reported that Sunday’s incident constituted a “hijacking”, but that has been refuted by An Garda Síochána and Bus Éireann. Reports that a weapon was involved have also turned out to be false, The Journal understands. 

Bus Éireann confirmed “it was absolutely not a hijacking or anything of the sort”.

National Bus and Rail Union’s (NBRU) general secretary Dermot O’Leary told The Journal that the group of youths got on the bus and were disruptive, hopping on and off at each stop and moving around near the driver. 

The driver eventually asked them to make up their minds about staying on or getting off, which was met by one member of the group saying, “‘I’m going to have you shot between the eyes’, or words to that effect,” O’Leary said.

“The driver just basically closed the door at that stage and drove off,” said O’Leary, but because the route requires buses to double back and return along the same road, the bus was met by the group again. 

O’Leary said they were “banging on the bus and just making a nuisance of themselves” when it came to a stop again. 

The two incidents have led Bus Éireann to halt service through the two areas and the situation is currently under review. Both incidents have been referred to An Garda Síochána.

“Customers are advised to check the Service Updates section of our website for the most up to date travel information,” the company said.

O’Leary expressed doubt that the service through O’Malley Park would resume in the near future because of the prevalence of antisocial behaviour, which he said was unfair to the majority of “decent and hardworking” locals in the area. 

“O’Malley Park certainly wouldn’t be an option for us in the short to medium term,” he said, while he remained more hopeful about the future of services through Carew Park. 

O’Leary once again stressed his members’ desire to see the Government institute a dedicated transport policing force to help deter these kinds of behaviours. 

He said that the political will is largely there among Government and opposition parties but also recognised that An Garda Síochána has been facing resourcing issues. 

He said transport policing would not be a “panacea” but it would help as a form of deterrence.