Translink investigating alleged altercation on Dublin to Derry bus

Translink are investigating an alleged altercation between a bus driver and a passenger on a Derry-bound bus this week.

Passenger John Dunne alleged that he spoke with a bus driver after he stopped an elderly passenger from getting on the Dublin to Derry X4 bus at Dungiven on Tuesday morning.

Mr Dunne said the driver claimed that he could not pick the man up because it was a 'cross-border service'.

The civil servant from Derry said that he pointed out to the driver that he himself had been picked up in Dungannon.

He said that the driver then became abusive to him and continued to be abusive when he spoke to them after the bus reached Foyle Street station.

Mr Dunne said that he then spoke with a senior Translink representative at the station and was told the driver would be suspended ahead of an investigation.

He alleged that a representative from Translink then phoned him on Wednesday and told him that the driver was not suspended.

Mr Dunne said that the call had caused him to further his complaint and that he felt compelled to complain after being 'disgusted' by the actions of the driver.

"I felt the need to speak up after seeing an elderly gentleman left outside in very cold weather with no reason given, I showed the driver the timetable," he said.

"All it would have taken was an apology, 99% of Translink drivers are brilliant but it only takes one bad egg to spoil it.

"I couldn't let the behaviour of the driver slide, and find it very hard to believe that Translink have now told me they don't have the power to suspend him and he is back working."

Mr Dunne said that he had seen similar actions from drivers in the past.

"I am a regular user of this service for work and this is the third time I've seen drivers behave in this way, refusing passengers without explanation," he said.

A Translink spokesperson confirmed that they were investigating an incident on the X4 Dublin to Derry service.

“Customer service is a top priority for us," they said.

“We are investigating an alleged incident on board of one of our Dublin to Derry~Londonderry services yesterday morning.

“Our investigation will include reviewing CCTV footage from the bus in question and at Foyle Street bus station.”