13/01/2009

Bus Attack Heroes Get Free Ride

The two men who came to the aid of a Dublin bus driver on Saturday have been praised as heroes by the bus company and given 'freedom of the city' as reward.

The two students, Matthew Carpenter and Karl Ussher, both 20, and from Tallaght, who went to the aid of the driver on Saturday night when he was attacked following a dispute.

Dublin Bus have awarded both men free bus travel throughout the city for a year as reward for their heroism.

It is believed the dispute arose aboard the bus after the bus driver, a Chinese national who has been working for Dublin Bus for 18 months, was asked to open the doors in between stops on Cork Street. When he was refused, he was attacked.

The two students then came to the driver's aid and managed to stop the bus.

The driver, Xiang Zhu, who was known to his colleagues as 'Jackie', was discharged from hospital on Sunday morning with broken bones in his hand and suffering from bruising and shock.

Mark Dwyer, 32, of Dolphin House, Dublin, has been charged with assault causing harm and a second charge of unauthorised taking of a vehicle at District Court in the capital.

The court heard that Mr Dwyer was arrested last Saturday in the Cork Street area, Garda Molyneux told the court. Mr Dwyer made no reply when cautioned.

(DW/BMcC)

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