Sadiq Khan urged to apologise to ‘hero’ bus driver sacked for punching thief

Mark Hehir was fired by Metroline after he chased a thief who stole a passenger's necklace before knocking them out in self-defence when they returned

On Thursday the assembly members passed a unanimous motion praising "hero" bus driver Mark Hehir and called for an investigation into his dismissal.

The motion called for Sir Sadiq Khan and Transport for London to "apply pressure to Metroline to reinstate Mr Hehir or provide appropriate compensation", and to "set out clear guidance for transport workers protecting passengers".

Mr Hehir, 62, who is originally from Limerick but now lives in north-west London, was fired by Metroline after he chased a thief who stole a passenger's necklace before knocking them out in self-defence when they returned.

Mr Hehir told LBC: "They wait for these people just to keep their guard down and they strike.

"And I wasn’t going to allow it."

The vote comes after Mr Hehir called the mayor's silence "disappointing".

London Assembly member Keith Prince, who brought forward the motion, said: "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."

The Mayor of London will have to formally respond to the assembly, however he does not have to accept the recommendations.

Earlier this week shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan, shadow transport minister Richard Holden and Ms Hall wrote to Sir Khan to demand "serious consideration of reinstatement or appropriate compensation".

The Conservatives have said they will bring forward proposals to introduce good samaritan protections in civil law for both employers and employees.

More than 135,000 people have signed a petition in support of the bus driver, which was launched after an employment tribunal upheld Metroline's decision to sack the bus driver, a ruling first reported by the Press Association.

In another sign of public support for him, a GoFundMe page for Mr Hehir has raised more than £40,000 and Justice Secretary David Lammy said that Mr Hehir is "a hero and deserves our support".

In an interview with the Press Association this week, Mr Hehir said that he would like an apology from Metroline as well as compensation for lost earnings, but did not want his job back.

A Metroline spokesperson previously said: "The tribunal has upheld the dismissal as fair."

The Mayor of London has been approached for comment.