Imagine you’re on a bus, and your necklace is snatched by a thief. What would you hope for? Perhaps a brave soul to step in. That’s exactly what happened when Katalin Kaszas had her jewellery stolen. Bus driver Mark Hehir, 62, didn’t hesitate. He chased the thief, retrieved the necklace, and returned it to a grateful Katalin.
But the drama wasn’t over. The thief returned to the bus, making Katalin feel threatened. Mark, recognizing the danger, stepped between them. A confrontation ensued, and in an act of self-defense, Mark knocked the man unconscious. He then restrained him until the police arrived. The police later cleared Mark, stating his force was “proportionate and necessary” in defending himself and his passenger.
You’d think this would be the end of the story, a tale of heroism. Instead, Mark was fired by Metroline, his employer. Katalin Kaszas feels “so guilty,” believing Mark “didn’t deserve that” and that his actions saved her from potential harm. She’s not alone. Justice Secretary David Lammy called Mark “of course a hero” and said he deserves support.
The public outcry has been massive. Over 125,000 people have signed a petition in Mark’s defense, and a GoFundMe page has raised over £28,000. Even an employment tribunal upheld Metroline’s dismissal, leading many, including politicians, to demand an apology from the company.
Metroline simply states, “The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair.” But for many, this feels like a profound injustice. Should a driver who protected his passenger, and was cleared by police, lose his livelihood? The debate continues: when does corporate policy override common sense and human decency?
