Fundraising Goal: £20,000+ (GoFundMe staggers and increases the goal automatically)
Growing Support
Donate if you can and sign the petition started by Kieran Mullan MP, who is calling for Mark to be reinstated or compensated.
Sign the petition: www.change.org/p/reinstate-hero-bus-driver-mark-hehir
The Story
On 25th June 2024, Mark Hehir was driving the 206 bus between Wembley and Maida Vale when a man boarded, shoved past a female passenger, ripped a necklace from her neck, and ran.
Mark didn't hesitate. He chased the thief down the street, recovered the necklace, and returned it to the shaken passenger.
But then the man came back to the bus. Metroline claimed the man had returned to apologise. What's not disputed is that Mark struck the man once and then restrained him on the pavement for nearly 30 minutes until police arrived.
The Metropolitan Police cleared Mark completely. Detective Sergeant Waddington's official case review concluded that Mark "had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger."
Both men were arrested. Mark was released with no charges and no further action.
But Metroline sacked him anyway - dismissing him without notice for gross misconduct, claiming he had brought the company into disrepute and failed to follow safety procedures.
Mark appealed internally. He took it to an Employment Tribunal. Despite the police findings, despite his clean disciplinary record over two years of service, despite acting to protect a passenger - the tribunal ruled that Metroline's decision fell within the range of responses open to an employer.
He lost his case.
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What Mark Lost
- His job of two years, terminated without notice
- A serious hand injury sustained during the incident - his arm was in a sling for six weeks, followed by regular physiotherapy and hospital visits until November 2024
- His livelihood, for doing what many would consider the right thing
Why I'm Raising This
I'm Henry Goff. A Londoner since birth. I don't know Mark personally, but like many others who've followed this story, I felt the outcome was deeply unfair.
Mark saw a woman being robbed on his bus and he acted. The police reviewed the evidence and said he did nothing wrong. Yet he's the one who paid the price.
The law may say Metroline were entitled to sack him. But that doesn't make it right.
What This Fund Is For
This money goes directly to Mark - no strings attached.
Whether he puts it towards legal fees, covers the income he lost, or books himself a well-deserved holiday or a new home if it goes that far - that's entirely his call. He's earned it.
I've reached out to Mark via email, thanks to his union rep.
This is simply people saying: we saw what you did, we think it was right, and we've got your back.
Share This
Even if you can't donate, please share this page. Let Mark know that people are behind him.
Sign the petition: www.change.org/p/reinstate-hero-bus-driver-mark-hehir
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