A Dublin Bus driver who was pulled from his vehicle before it was set on fire in Dublin last night was told, ‘get out now or we’ll kill you’.
On Lunchtime Live this afternoon bus driver Salies Tupsy said he was unaware of the trouble brewing in the city before he was attacked.
Three buses were torched during the riots in Dublin last night, alongside three Garda Patrol Cars and one Luas tram.
A total of 34 people were arrested during the violence, with 32 people before the courts today.
Mr Tupsy described how he found himself caught up in the chaos to Andrea Gilligan this afternoon.
“I got to O’Connell Bridge and saw that a car was on fire but I was still unaware of what was happening,” he said.
“I was moving slowly and two guys with a scooter came in front of the bus and I was stopped.
“They started to shout and bang on the windscreen. One opened the side door and one opened the central door.
“They threw punches at me and started to scream saying ‘get out now.’”
Mr Tupsy had just finished his route and was coming back into the city centre with an empty bus ready to finish his shift.
A bus burns on O'Connell Street amid violent riots in Dublin City on November 24th.He said the “two young lads” who entered the bus and punched him soon left - but the situation wasn’t over yet.
“I closed the door and tried to call the controller but I didn’t have time,” said Mr Tupsy.
“Around ten guys came in front of the windscreen and started to bang it saying, ‘Get out now, get out of this bus now’.
“I still didn’t know what happened. They opened the door again and said, ‘Get out or we’ll kill you.’”
The bus driver said one of the men “held me tight” and protected him from the others, bringing him to safety outside of the vehicle.
Once they got the driver out, the rioters torched the bus on the spot.
Shocking scenes from Dublin as the city centre descends into violence and looting following an attack on Parnell Square East.
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Having lived in Dublin for 15 years now Mr Tupsy said he hasn't experienced anything like this in his "entire life".
“Nothing like this has ever happened, sometimes people are rude and there are a lot of issues – but not this type of issue,” said Mr Tupsy.
The bus driver said he is trying not to take the experience to heart.
“I’ve gotten a lot of words said to me over the years like ‘what are you doing here’ but I don’t mind. I take it as normal,” he said.
“But after this has happened, I will have to take my time to go back; to get through this one.”
Listen back now:
