Bus Éireann has to close part of its bus service in Limerick due to anti-social behaviour

On Friday, July 12, a bus driver was shot in the face with a pellet gun in the O’Malley Park area while working on the track connecting O’Malley Park to Pineview.

On Sunday 14 July, a group of youths threatened a bus driver in Carew Park because he refused to pay their ticket.

The group only disrupted services for a short time, but Stephen Nugent, senior national executive member of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), said the driver was “terrified” after what had happened to a colleague just days earlier.

Mr Nugent reported other incidents in the same area, including a group throwing “bricks, stones and bottles” at a bus.

He said: “At O’Malley Park, Southill, there had to be a security van following the bus as it travelled between 5pm and midnight. Two weeks ago that security van was itself attacked.

“Last week we also found razor blades in the seats of one of the buses.

“It’s a real hotspot of antisocial behavior.”

Due to the incidents, service on route 303 from O’Malley Park and Carew Park has been suspended until further notice.

Bus Éireann is currently investigating the incidents.

“Bus Éireann continues to investigate a serious incident of anti-social behaviour which occurred on 12 July 2024 in the O’Malley Park area of ​​Limerick on route 303 (Kilmallock Rd – Pineview). Our driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“Another incident occurred on Sunday 14 July 2024 on route 303 in Carew Park where several youths confronted our driver while the bus was in service. In this unacceptable incident, a number of youths boarded the bus, confronted the driver, exited the bus and subsequently disrupted the operation of the service for a very short period of time.

“Both incidents have been referred to An Garda Síochána and Bus Éireann is providing the necessary assistance, including providing CCTV to the Gardaí.”

“Due to these incidents, service on route 303 from O’Malley Park and Carew Park has been suspended until further notice and this is currently under review. Customers are advised to visit the Service Updates section of our website for the most up to date travel information.

“Bus Éireann does not tolerate anti-social or criminal behaviour towards our customers or employees.”

The NBRU has now called for action.

“First of all, we are calling for a dedicated Garda unit for public transport,” said Mr Nugent.

“Secondly, to solve the problem locally, particularly to restore services at O’Malley Park, we are calling for a transport forum, just like the one currently taking place in Tallaght, where all the stakeholders, students, local politicians, community activists, Gardaí and transport unions, come together and sit down to find a solution.

“You should also contact the national transport authority; it should finance the security services necessary to protect workers.”