Female bus driver shot with air gun in Limerick

Ireland's National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has condemned an incident in which they say a female bus driver was shot with an air gun.

The incident happened on the 303 bus service in Limerick city shortly after 12:00 BST on Friday (12 July).

Gardaí (Irish police) and Bus Éireann are investigating.

A spokesperson for Bus Éireann confirmed that services in the area had been suspended following an incident in the O'Malley Park area of Limerick.

“This matter has been referred to An Garda Síochána [Irish police] and Bus Éireann will provide any assistance required, including making CCTV available to Gardaí,” a spokesperson for Bus Éireann said.

They said the driver “was reported to have received minor injuries” and had been taken to hospital as a precaution.

Describing the incident as "disgraceful and extremely dangerous", Stephen Nugent, National Bus and Rail Union’s Senior National Executive Member, said the driver had just begun her second week operating bus services for Bus Éireann.

“[She] was approached by a gang of youths at a bus stop. They refused to pay their fare and began threatening the bus driver to let them on board the service," Mr Nugent said.

"The driver became very frightened and intimidated by the gang and decided to let them on.

“When leaving the bus, one member of the gang produced an air gun and shot the female driver in the face, hitting her just below the eye."

He said local union representatives subsequently requested that Bus Éireann withdraw services in the area until “assurances on safety are forthcoming".

Mr Nugent added that the incident highlighted the need for a “dedicated Garda public transport unit to be established”, which he described as a “long-standing call” by the NBRU.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána (Ireland's police force) said that gardaí were alerted to an incident on a bus in Limerick’s O'Malley Park, Southill, shortly after noon on Friday (12 July).

"The female bus driver, aged in her 30s was assaulted by a number of youths but did not require immediate medical attention," the spokesperson said.

He said investigations were ongoing.