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Shocking images show a man stamping on a bus driver as passengers watch on in North Dublin.

Gardai are investigating after the driver was attacked by a man while working in Finglas last Friday evening at around 7pm.

An appalled passerby said that the driver ended up on the ground after stopping the bus suddenly and following the man off it.

He told Dublin Live: "[The other passengers alongside] were in the bus at the time, it's shocking that they didn't help the driver."

Dublin Bus confirmed they are investigating the horror incident while gardai are also probing.

A spokesman said: "Gardai in Finglas are investigating a minor assault which occurred on the Finglas Road, Finglas, Co. Dublin on the 13th of September 2019 at approximately 7pm.

"No injuries were reported.

"No arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing."

(Image: @Dominik_Mk)

It came just hours after 50 gardai boarded Luas, DART, and commuter trains as part of a new operation.

It was the first day of the new initiative designed to "support transport operators in ensuring a safe and secure travelling environment for customers".

Members of the force travelled on public transport from 3pm until the end of services on Friday night, however, Dublin Bus was not included in the scheme.

Local councillor Noeleen Reilly told Dublin Live more needs to be done for drivers or "nobody will want to work for Dublin Bus".

She said: "It's very shocking. Someone out doing a day's work and they end up on the ground being attacked.

"There is issues on public transport and Dublin Bus with anti-social behaviour and at times drivers are very vulnerable.

"I don't drive, and some of the things you see on the bus are horrible. I can only imagine what happened here but it's terrible that this is the position they ended up in."

The Ballymun-Finglas rep went on to say she's witnessed drivers take "appalling" abuse and that open drug use is also a regular sight.

She said: "The level of anti-social behaviour and drug taking alone is absolutely unacceptable.

"It would turn you off using the bus. Some people have no choice but we're supposed to be encouraging those with cars to use public transport.

"I've witnessed drivers take appalling abuse myself, and unless this is tackled you'll have a situation where nobody will want to work for Dublin Bus."

Although Dublin Bus tell their drivers to remain in their seats at all times, one worker told Dublin Live it can be very difficult to stick to the rule.

He said: "It's the official Dublin Bus line that drivers should keep in their seats and keep their screens up, but about half don't stick by that.

"When something happens we're supposed to sit in and tell control or alert gardai.

"But it's very hard not to go out. Most people are fine but we'll always have to deal with that one percent and the time might not be there."

He continued: "It can be hard in certain situations, especially when other passengers are in trouble. If you stay put, people think they can go further because you aren't going to do anything.

"If you get out you're vulnerable.

"There's a responsibility to passengers. Although it's not Dublin Bus policy, if innocent people are disrupted you have to get out and try and solve it. You're the one in charge."

He concluded: "We don't have as much trouble as the Luas or DART, but people do turn on you, especially if there's drink taken.

"Last year a driver was attacked in Bray. It started off with a man smoking and he got up to tell him to leave and got turned on.

"Sometimes it's something small that escalates but other times a passenger is being attacked and you need to try and protect them."