© The Independent
A passenger left “utterly humiliated” by a bus driver has been awarded €10,500 damages in the Circuit Civil Court for defamation of character. Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said Lana Froze had been put through a humiliating experience after the driver turned off the engine and “held passengers to ransom” until she agreed to get out.
The court had heard that in March 2014 Ms Froze boarded the number 33 Dublin Bus in Rush, Co Dublin, to go to her work at the Premier Inn, Airside, Swords, and €2.50 had been debited from her Leap card.
Ms Froze, of Woodland Park, Rush, said the usual ticket cost of €3.05 was reduced to €2.50 when using a Leap card.
The court heard the driver had, in front of other passengers, told her that she had paid only to go to Swords Main Street.
She felt she had no choice but to leave the bus and walk to her place of work.