Passenger 'humiliated' by Dublin Bus driver awarded €10,500 in damages

This article was published on the 14th of April 2015 in the Irish Independent.

A passenger, who, a judge said, was 'utterly humiliated' by a bus driver who had accused her of fraud, was today awarded damages in the Circuit Civil Court for defamation of character.

Circuit Court President said that the lady had been put through a humiliating experience after the driver “held passengers to ransom” by detaining them in the bus until she had agreed to get out.

The court had heard that in March 2014 the lady boarded bus 33 in Rush, Co Dublin, to go to her workplace and €2.50 had been debited from her Leapcard.

The Plaintiff said the usual ticket cost of €3.05 was reduced to €2.50 when using a Leapcard, however the same driver had a few weeks previously told her that she was required to pay an extra fare.

The lady's barrister said that when she boarded the bus the driver, who had recognised her, stopped the bus two stops before her destination, approached her and told her she had to get off as it was her bus stop.

The court heard the driver had, in front of other passengers, told her that she had only paid to go to Swords Main Street. As the lady had refused to leave the bus, the driver had gone back to his seat, switched off the engine and waited, refusing to drive the bus any farther.

The lady said she had felt ashamed and embarrassed by the incident which had taken place in the full view of other passengers, who themselves had been anxious to get to their work. She felt she had no choice but to leave the bus following the driver’s demand and walk to her place of work.

She said she had later complained to Dublin Bus, which had then apologised and offered €7,500 compensation, which she had refused.

Judge Groarke, awarding her €10,500 damages along with her legal costs, said the apology from Dublin Bus had not mentioned that the lady had been humiliated although she had done absolutely nothing wrong