A bus driver who was sacked after knocking a thief unconscious should receive an apology and be compensated or reinstated, according to a motion passed by the London Assembly.
Mark Hehir, 62, was fired by Metroline after he chased down a thief who had stolen the jewellery belonging to one of his passengers, Katalin Kaszas.
The decision to dismiss Mr Hehir for gross misconduct went on to be upheld at an employment tribunal, external.
But a motion by the London Assembly has since recognised the “overwhelming public concern surrounding this case".
The motion "calls on the mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) to carry out a full investigation into this incident".
It goes on: "The Assembly further calls on the mayor to ensure that clear guidance is put in place so that transport workers who act in good faith to protect passengers are treated fairly and supported, not punished."
Mr Hehir said he was “thrilled” about the motion.
It comes as over 137,000 people have signed a petition calling for a bus driver sacked after retrieving a passenger’s stolen necklace to be reinstated.
Keith Prince, the Reform UK member who proposed the assembly motion on Thursday, said: “More than 100,000 members of the public have spoken out in Mark’s support because they recognise a basic injustice.
“This is not about encouraging reckless behaviour. It is about whether we are comfortable with a system that punishes frontline workers for stepping in when crime happens right in front of them.
“By supporting this motion unanimously, the assembly has sent a clear message that public concern, common sense, and fairness still matter.”
Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservatives, who was one of the first politicians to speak out in support of Mr Hehir and met him in Parliament this week, said : "I already knew he was a hero but having met him now and heard first-hand what he went through and what a thoroughly decent man he is I am very glad the public have had a chance to show him their support. It is time for the Mayor to show his support now."
Mr Hehir said: "“I want to thank Susan and the whole assembly for supporting me. To have everyone come together, all different parties, it means a lot.
“I hope the mayor now finally says something as its disappointing he hasn’t so far. I would welcome the chance to speak with him about it. I hope he will give his support as well.”
Ms Kaszas, 46, said that she felt “so guilty” after learning Mr Hehir had lost his job as a result of confronting the thief.
She told the Press Association: “When I was getting on the bus, a young man was getting off on the front door. He was running past me, I thought he was going to push me off the bus. He just grabbed my necklace and ran with it.
“I was like, ‘Why is he there, where is my necklace? Oh damn’. So that’s when I realised what just happened. I saw Mark running out, running after the guy.”
But after Mr Hehir gave the necklace back to Ms Kaszas, the thief returned to the bus.
Ms Kaszas said: “The guy was coming up… I was like ‘No, no, no, stay away from me, I don’t want to do anything with you’. He looked very, very shifty, I did not feel comfortable at all.
“I would say I even felt threatened, so I was backing away, and that’s when Mark realised that something is not right here and he stepped in.
“I don’t know where I was in my mind, I saw a punch flying, a guy hitting the floor, there was some blood and then I started to call the police.”
Asked for her reaction to hearing Mr Hehir had been sacked by Metroline, Ms Kaszas said: “I think it was unjust. I don’t think (Mr Hehir) deserved that.
“If he doesn’t do what he did, anything could have happened to me.
“I felt so guilty. I felt that it was my fault – I caused all this.”
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary David Lammy told the House of Commons on Tuesday that Mr Hehir “is of course a hero and deserves our support”.
He added: “I’m following this case very closely.”
More than 130,000 people have signed a petition in support Mr Hehir, which was launched after an employment tribunal upheld Metroline’s decision to sack the bus driver, a ruling first reported by PA.
In another sign of public support for the former bus driver, a GoFundMe page for Mr Hehir has raised more than £40,000.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Hehir – who is originally from Limerick in Ireland, but now lives in north-west London – was invited into parliament by shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan.
Mr Mullan told PA: “I think Metroline need to come out and apologise, Mark deserves an apology, it’s quite clear they’ve gotten this wrong”.
Last week, Press Association reported from the findings of an employment tribunal which found that on June 25 2024 Mr Hehir was driving the 206 bus, which runs between Wembley and Maida Vale in north-west London.
The tribunal was told the bus driver then responded in self-defence to the thief and hit the man once, knocking him unconscious.
Mr Hehir then restrained the thief on the pavement until police arrived.
Both men were arrested, however Mr Hehir was told he would face no further police action.
A police case review said: “The claimant had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger”.
A Metroline spokesperson said: “The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair.”
