Man ‘sorry’ after fare row sparks bus evacuation

A MAN who refused to pay his fare caused fearful passengers to flee a city centre bus.

Owen Kellacher called the driver of the First Bus an “a******e” when asked to pay his fare.

The rumpus resulted in the bus being evacuated and the police called before Kellacher was detained.

The incident happened on the Gallowgate around 3.40pm on August 1.

While in charge of a dog and a young boy, Kellacher, of Vancouver Drive, strode onto the number 6 bus without paying and sat down.

The driver called to him to pay his fare and so he walked back down to the front of the bus and shouted and swore.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the 32-year-old said: “I’m not paying any money. You’re an a******e.”

He then went to the top deck of the bus where he began to abuse passengers who fled off the bus.

The driver called the police, leaving Kellacher sitting on the top deck of the bus.

Police had also been approached by passengers and passersby who were concerned by Kellacher’s behaviour, saying he was “behaving in an erratic manner and making gestures”.

Kellacher was said to have been “significantly under the influence of alcohol” at the time.

The young boy and the dog were removed and Kellacher was cautioned and charged.

Kellacher’s defence brief said he was “embarrassed and apologises” and that “alcohol is the root cause of his behaviour”.

He was given a Community Payback Order with 150 hours of unpaid work as well as a tag that for three months will keep him at home between the hours of 9.30pm and 6am.