‘No guarantees’ from minister over free travel pass for bus driver’s killer

A Scottish Government minister has come under fire for refusing to say if a teenager who killed a bus driver could be barred in future from having a free travel card.

MSPs pressed connectivity minister Jim Fairlie over whether the youth – who was 15 when he fatally assaulted driver Keith Rollinson in Elgin bus station – would be entitled to free bus travel when he is released from custody.

He was sentenced to four years and four months for the attack on Mr Rollinson, which took place in February 2024, and saw the driver suffer a cardiac arrest after being headbutted and punched by the youth.

With those under the age of 22 being entitled to free bus travel across Scotland, Mr Fairlie was pressed to say if the teenager could still benefit from this.

However the minister would only say he could “not answer individual questions about individual cases”.

Insisting it was “inappropriate” and “disrespectful”, Mr Fairlie told MSPs: “I am not going to comment on the death of Mr Rollinson. I am not going to go any further with this conversation about Mr Rollinson.”

He insisted: “I cannot give guarantees on anything in terms of Mr Rollinson’s position and would really would rather not be discussing Mr Rollinson’s position.”

The minister had been pressed on the issue as MSPs on Holyrood’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee discussed Scottish Government plans to remove free bus passes from those who commit acts of anti-social behaviour while on board.

Mr Fairlie told the committee the scheme would act as a deterrent.

While he accepted that “the removal of a pass is not going to solve all anti-social behaviour” the minister said it would help with “protecting people who are travelling on the buses”.

He added: “I would very much hope there will be very, very few, if any that have their pass removed from them, because the threat from the deterrent is enough to make them behave in a way that is appropriate.”

But Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden said afterwards: “It’s shameful that this SNP minister couldn’t guarantee that the thug who killed Keith Rollinson will be stripped of his free bus pass.

“Our party has been campaigning for years to deny free travel for those who commit crimes and anti-social behaviour on buses. But John Swinney’s Government have dragged their heels and refused to act.”

Mr Lumsden insisted: “This shouldn’t be up for debate. This vile killer, who received a shockingly short sentence and hasn’t even gone to prison, shouldn’t be allowed to get on a bus for free.”

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Daniel Johnson was also critical, saying: “Jim Fairlie’s woeful committee appearance shows the SNP simply is not taking this issue seriously enough.

“Violent, anti-social and criminal behaviour is far too common on our buses but the minister was dodging basic questions about how his plans will work.

“It is appalling that the SNP Government cannot even tell us whether Keith Rollinson’s killer will lose his bus pass.

“People deserve to feel safe on public transport and no-one should be allowed to use their free bus pass to attack or intimidate others.

“The SNP needs to start giving straight answers about how these plans will work so the public can have faith that there will be zero tolerance for violence and anti-social behaviour on buses.”

With the proposals backed by the committee, a Transport Scotland spokesman said afterwards: “The Scottish Government is clear that free bus travel changes lives, particularly for people who are facing financial barriers to transport during the cost of living crisis.

“The vast majority of people who benefit from free bus travel do so responsibly – but where anti-social behaviour has occurred, ministers have the greatest sympathy for bus drivers and passengers who have been affected.

“Today’s committee decision is a positive step forward, and officials continue their engagement with stakeholders in the development process of the card withdrawal process at pace.

“Ministers are clear that everyone should be able get where they need to go without fear of abuse. We are working hard to ensure that all bus passengers can travel safely and confidently on our bus network.”