Bus Éireann suspended services on the south side of Limerick city after a female bus driver was shot in the face with an airgun. The incident occurred in the O’Malley Park area on Friday afternoon when a youth fired a pellet at the driver, striking her near the eye.
The driver, in only her second week on the job, was left traumatized. She was taken to the hospital for precautionary treatment. The National Bus and Rail Union reported that the youths involved had refused to pay their fare and threatened the driver.
Siptu representative Andrew Quigley stated the situation could have been worse if the pellet had hit the driver’s eye. He emphasized that some of the youths were “mere children.”
Bus Éireann has referred the incident to the gardaí and is cooperating with the investigation, including providing CCTV footage. Services in the area have been halted during the investigation.
Siptu has called for urgent action to address antisocial behavior on public transport, suggesting the creation of a transport police service to ensure passenger safety.