Bus driver said racist abuse was the worst he had endured

Two Fife women racially abused a bus driver as he brought passengers back from the Edinburgh Festival.

The driver said it was the worst abuse he had endured.

Frances Duggan or Morris, 61, of Park Road, Rosyth, and Annette Hay, 52, of Glebe Place, Burntisland, returned for sentencing after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

They were found guilty of acting in a racially aggravated manner towards bus driver Marcin Tatartoinowicz by uttering abusive and racially offensive remarks on August 18 last year at Admiralty Road, Rosyth.

It happened on the 11.15pm Edinburgh to Leven service.

“They tried to open a window and started arguing with other passengers,” Mr Tatartoinowicz told the court during the trial.

Most of the passengers got off at Ferrytoll.

Nearby, there were roadworks in place which prevented the bus going its normal route to Rosyth.

Mr Tatartoinowicz heard one of the women said: “Where is the driver going?”

The other replied: “He’s Polish. He doesn’t know where he’s going.”

He heard them saying: “He’s a f ****** Nazi. He’s Polish. He’s not from here.”

When the bus stopped, the pair forced the door open and clambered out, one of them falling on to the tarmac.

A video of the incident was taken by one of the other passengers.

The driver said: “This was the worst abuse I’ve received.

“I’m doing a public service. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Sheriff Simon Collins placed both women on community payback orders with 150 hours of unpaid work.