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‘Shame on you, Metroline’, says reader
Bus driver Mark Hehir was sacked for ‘bringing his company into disrepute’ – because he chased down and punched a robber who’d snatched a passenger’s necklace (Metro, Fri).
Police said the ‘hero’ – who retrieved the woman’s jewellery – used ‘proportionate force’ in defending himself after the thug threw the first punch.
But his bosses at Metroline in London said Mr Hehir had used ‘excessive force’ in restraining the thief until police arrived.
Shame on you, Metroline. Mr Hehir is a hero and should be rewarded for his bravery. It’s disgusting he has lost his job. Stevie D, London
This reader agrees
The police, who are the experts here, backed Mark Hehir so he should have been praised and rewarded by his employer. We need decent men like Mr Hehir to stand up to criminals.
And shame on the employment tribunal in backing the bus company – all it has done is help underpin the thug’s charter we seem to be plagued by in the UK at present. Nick, Luton
‘It is difficult to be surprised at the state of crime in our capital when individuals who act to stop robberies are punished’, says reader
Mark Hehir was dismissed for allegedly ‘bringing the company into disrepute by assaulting a passenger’ and for failing ‘to protect himself and his passengers’ by leaving the bus to give chase.
However, witnessing a passenger’s necklace being stolen and then retrieving it could reasonably be seen as protecting a passenger, not failing to do so. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to suggest that someone who steals a necklace, is pursued and has the jewellery taken back from him would then calmly return to shake hands with the victim, as the bus company argued.
It is difficult to be surprised at the state of crime in our capital when individuals who act to stop robberies are punished, while offenders walk away without consequence. Eric Lee-Mather, Woking
Reader puts heat on Emmerdale
![FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 11th November 2025 Emmerdale - Ep 10441 Tuesday 18th November 2025 When Bob Hope [TONY AUDENSHAW] tells April Windsor [AMELIA FLANAGAN] that he feels it’s his duty to come clean to Marlon, Celia [JAYE GRIFFITHS] steps in and assures him April’s arrest is minor but covers her frustration when Bob’s determined to tell Marlon. When alone with Celia, April’s shaken when she warns her she’s used up her last chance. Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com Photographer - Mark Bruce This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SEI_273941659_2874e7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The soap Emmerdale (Farm, as it once was) has become a seedy backwater of smut TV.
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Its producers should follow the example of Heartbeat, which stayed true to its original purpose, which was to depict life in a rural setting with crime and comedy combined. Watching Emmerdale and all its smut and violence is a sad incitement of what society allegedly wants. Paddy Cawkwell, Doncaster
Reader calls out ‘obscene’ amounts paid to water investors
Regarding the announcement that water companies are to increase their prices from April (Metro, Fri), allegedly to resolve the horrendous polluting of our water courses – surely rather than once again penalising those who can least afford it, the answer to the ‘shortfall’ in funding would be to reduce the obscene amounts paid to investors. Rob, York
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