A busy Bus Eireann route has been partially suspended after a driver was shot in the face with a pellet gun on Thursday evening.
The shocking incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday on the 203 route at a stop in Upper Fairhill in Cork city.
Cork Beo reports that the driver had just stopped to let passengers off when a suspect, described by witnesses as a young man, pulled out what is believed to be a pellet pistol and shot him in the face.
The driver, thankfully, received only minor injuries but union officials have said that it could have been far more serious and say the man is "deeply shaken" by the incident.
Gardai are investigating and any witnesses are asked to contact Gurranabraher Station on 021 494 6200.
His union, the NBRU, has notified Bus Eireann management that they are seeking a curtailment of services on the 203, which will likely affect evening services to Upper Fairhill above the Farranree Church stop.
"This is just the latest in a series of serious incidents and our members do not feel that they can operate in a safe environment," Thomas O'Connor of the NBRU said.
"Management will be informed of the need to curtail services in the area until such time as the drivers feel their safety is more assured".
The union official said the NBRU and its members had no wish to inconvenience the people of the area.
Bus Eireann staff have worked hard to provide a good service on the route, often in the face of serious anti-social behaviour and violent assaults .
And he said the NBRU hoped that they, Bus Eireann management and the local community could come together very shortly to discuss ways to make the route safer for everybody on the buses.
"We will be seeking to have a community forum to discuss ways that we can tackle this problem, we want to work with the people who use and need the service," said Mr O'Connor.
The NBRU has had to bring in similar curtailments of service recently after serious anti-social behavior in Ballyvolane. Another ban is in place on a route in Limerick at the moment. The latest driver to come under attack in Cork is expected to make a full recovery but has been badly shaken by the incident.
