Buses pull out of estate after attacks

Published Wednesday, 29 August 2012
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A bus driver is recovering after he was robbed in his vehicle in the Newtownabbey area, just over a year after a violent attack left him fearing for his life.

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The driver was in the Devenish Drive area of Monkstown estate at around 9.45pm on Tuesday when three masked men got onto the bus armed with a screwdriver.

The gang demanded cash before making off towards nearby woodland.

It is the second time the bus driver has been targeted by thieves. Around 18 months ago, Unite union said he was beaten by a man carrying a knife and a hammer on the Shore Road in north Belfast.

During that robbery the victim, who is thought in his 30s, was beaten several times with a hammer, and Michael Dornan from Unite said the driver has been left traumatised.

"He didn't sleep last night, the attack brought back everything from 18 months ago where he thought he was losing his life."

Last month another driver was robbed in the Monkstown estate and following a meeting with Unite, the PSNI, and community representatives, buses will not go into the area after 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

"We are getting round our communities and letting people know that these bus drivers have to come in and earn a living and they need some kind of security," said David McCrea of Monkstown Community Association.

At the end of the day we just want to show the drivers that 99% of this community wants these drivers in and the buses. We can’t let 1% stop this.

David McCrea

A Translink spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the community representatives, the PSNI and local politicians to resolve this situation and we regret any inconvenience caused to passengers."

A senior shop steward with Translink has called for anyone in the community who has information about the attacks to tell the police.

"There should be no place in any decent working class community for these type of people.

"Unless they are stopped they will intensify their anti-social behaviour and who knows what or who would be next, probably the most vulnerable people from within the actual community," he added.

© UTV News
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1 Comments
Lou in Newtownabbey wrote (266 days ago):
How come there was a bus in the estate at 10pm last night?
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