A school girl from Dublin was left appalled after witnessing a man perform a sex act on a busy bus she was travelling on. The incident took place on a busy route during peak hours when the girl was on her way home from school. Despite being surrounded by passengers, the man made no effort to hide his disturbing behaviour, leaving the girl feeling violated and helpless. This is not an isolated incident, with reports of sexual harassment on public transport rising in recent years, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement. It’s time for authorities to take action and ensure that everyone can feel safe while using public transport.
A court heard that a schoolgirl who witnessed a man performing a sexual act on a Dublin Bus felt nervous every time she got on a bus. Colin Redmond, who was drunk and intoxicated at the time, also urinated on the bus. Redmond’s lawyer told the court that he had “flashbacks” of his behaviour and was horrified by the effect it had on the girl. The judge imposed a suspended three-month sentence on Redmond, who admitted to performing a sexual act on himself on July 2, 2021, on the Boroimhe Link Road in Swords. Garda Brian Morrissey testified in Swords District Court that the girl was left traumatised by Redmond’s behaviour. In a victim impact statement, the girl, who is now 17 years old, said she was nervous getting on a bus for some time afterwards. Redmond’s defence solicitor stated that his client was now sober and drug-free, and completing a health care course.
In conclusion, the disturbing incident that occurred to the Dublin school girl on a bus serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater awareness and education around sexual harassment and assault. It’s crucial that we all work together to create safe environments for young people to travel in without fear of being subjected to such appalling behaviour. Let us take this as an opportunity to recommit to the collective responsibility to ensure our communities are safe and respectful for everyone, particularly for vulnerable teenagers. Our hope is that this incident serves as a catalyst for change and inspires those in positions of power to take meaningful action towards addressing this serious issue.
