Renewed calls for dedicated transport police following assault

Renewed calls have been made for a dedicated Garda public transport unit following a homophobic assault which took place on the number 15 bus earlier this month, leaving a man with serious facial injuries.

Mark Sheehan, 26, was assaulted on the bus by another passenger as he was travelling home on Sunday morning after a night out with friends.

Dublin South West TD John Lahart said assaults on public transport appear to be getting more serious in nature.

“I strongly condemn the actions of the small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice.

“In recent months we have seen vicious crimes take place. This cannot and will not be tolerated.

“An inclusive Ireland is one where crimes motivated by prejudice, hate or bigotry are not tolerated and work is ongoing as a priority to legislate against hate crime and hate speech, to ensure that Ireland is fair, safe and inclusive for all.

“Unfortunately, such incidents have become far too commonplace, particularly on our public transport services.”

Deputy Lahart says that public transport should be safe for everyone to use.

“The safety and security of passengers and staff must be paramount.

“It is in the public good in every sense that public transport is used, embraced and an attractive option for the travelling public. It needs to be affordable, efficient but also safe.”

General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union. Dermot O’Leary said a dedicated police transport unit would not solve all the problems but it would go a long way to deterring such behaviour on public transport.

“We’re living now in a society that people think they can just wander about public transport in particular and attack people just because of who they are and what they represent and that’s appalling,” he says.

“It does play into the debate that we’re having and it has been going on for a while now in relation to a dedicated Garda public transport division.

“It won’t solve all the ills of what is a societal issue but it would certainly demonstrate to people who think that they can act in this manner without consequence that if there is a dedicated Garda public transport division operating across bus and trains that there is a consequence and they could end up in court with a fine or a prison sentence.”

Deputy Lahart says public feedback on how to eradicate assaults on public transport is being sought.

“Last month we launched a transport safety survey asking commuters how safe they feel on public transport in Dublin. Such was the response, the survey has now been extended nationwide,” he says.

“My colleagues and I in Fianna Fáil will continue to campaign for the introduction of a dedicated Garda transport unit to help protect people using public transport.

“There needs to be a consistent approach to this. We must have a consistent and effective mechanism for security on public transport. People must feel safe.”