Sarah Carabott
Bus driver sacked over ‘assault’ on two women
It seemed to be homophobia – Arriva
Two video grabs from YouTube showing the bus driver (left) and one of the girls falling to the ground.
An off-duty bus driver lost his job after he allegedly assaulted two young women in what Arriva said “seems to have been a case of homophobia”.
Part of the incident was caught on camera and uploaded to YouTube by a passenger.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon on the Naxxar route bus and Marco Borg, 43, was charged in court the following day. But the whole story only came to light yesterday when amateur footage was posted on the video-sharing website by a witness.
Mr Borg, from Birkirkara, was accused of causing slight injuries to the two women, disrupting public order and relapsing, among others. He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000 and on condition that he does not approach the women, aged 17 and 21.
People who said they were present during the incident posted comments below the video saying the man assumed the women were lesbians and asked them to refrain from kissing.
According to sources, the man had asked the women not to sit together and “not to do these things in front of people”.
In the video, the bus driver, who was in uniform and returning home after a day’s work, is heard asking them to behave properly. One of the women answers that she lives in a democratic country.
Zero tolerance to violence – Arriva
Witnesses who spoke to The Times said the three got into an argument as the bus was passing through Msida and the dispute escalated near Sarria in Floriana. They seem to have alighted before allegedly coming to blows.
The video shows one of the women falling to the ground and the man is holding his face and being held back by the driver of the bus.
An Arriva spokesman said the off-duty bus driver was at the time using the bus as a passenger and his action was taken on his own initiative. He said the incident appeared to have been a case of homophobia. The man, he added, was longer employed with Arriva.
“Arriva has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence of any sort and would like to make it very clear that it condemns categorically and without reserve not only this incident but indeed any bullish, violent and other such reproachable and anti-social behaviour,” it said.
“Moreover, the bus operator wants to make it absolutely clear that it has a very clear and open diversity policy which all employees are bound to respect.” Meanwhile, LGBT Labour echoed the suspicion that this was an attack on a homosexual couple, following a similar incident in Ħamrun last month, and said legislation was urgently needed to deter such hate crime.
The Sunday Times had reported an attack in which a girl and her girlfriend were beaten specifically because of their sexual orientation.
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46 Comments
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Pierre Sacco
Feb 7th, 20:40
Indecent behaviour is wrong whether if it's done by a heterosexual or a homosexual couple. Although one would wish that arguments are better solved in an amicable way, it is pretty clear that these "victims" were well intent on provoking outrage, and they should show their affections privately. As someone said earlier on, first people were being earmarked a racists haphazardly, now it's the turn of homophobia! Oh, we discovered a new phenomenon! The person who took the video should have shown all that happened, from start to finish. But obviously, it is clear there's an agenda behind this.
Marthese Camilleri
Feb 7th, 18:30
Il-problema f'dan il pajjiz hi, li wara certu kummenti min certu ufficjal tal partit laburista fuq stazjon televisiv sezjoni tal poplu ghanda il- mibgheda lejn l Arriva u xufiera taghhom.
Andrew Formosa
Feb 7th, 17:21
I do not think that it was an off-duty driver's place to interfere. He should have at least had enough sense to leave the bus as soon as the situation worsened rather than prolong a slapping frenzy with clients of the company with which he is employed.
Joseph Sammut
Feb 7th, 17:50
Inti taf li ghawn citizen's arrest (there is a story today in the times on this subject). So why cannot an off duty bus driver on a bus not do something about such eventualities?
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 8th, 02:36
There is a difference between a citizen's arrest and taking the law into your own hands. What is it that the two young women did wrong? Kissing? You have to be truly small-minded to be offended by two men and two women kissing. If, as reported, Arriva has a zero tolerance for such matters, I can only congratulate the company.
John L Galea
Feb 7th, 15:16
According to many who posted in here, whenever someone sees a couple (being hetero or not) showing some innocent affection in public should be bashed. From the posts I read many indicate this indirectly (obviously for them hetero affection in public is morally good, the rest is an aberration). No wonder the Maltese society is sick in general.
Joseph Sammut
Feb 7th, 17:56
You are exagerating and being sensationalistic. Maltese society is not sick; it is as healthy as other nations, because human nature knows no boundaries. Whatever one's inclination is, like anything else, affection should be civilised in public. And since affection between same sex people is not common, one would expect it to make others feel more uncomfortable than affection between man and woman, although I repeat, people must show decency and respect to others; that's the beauty of living together.
Pierre Sacco
Feb 7th, 20:29
Society is sick because no one cares, and no one lifts a finger when he/she sees wrongdoing! Everything indicates that the only fault this driver had was that he could have taken control of the situation in a calmer manner, although I for one don't think it's easy to be calm in the face of physical and verbal abuse. In my opinion Arriva acted too fast, maybe because it's another entity which is obsessed with political correctness. The driver should be reinstated, maybe suspended, and have a fair hearing. He shouldn't lose his job because of the abusive whims of these so called "victims".
Mario Pace
Feb 7th, 14:47
According to one commenter here who claims to be an eye witness, the girl hit him first. Is it just me or In the last part of the video, the girl is boasting about the physical damage she managed to inflict on his face?
However, even if it is true that she hit him first, he should not have reacted that way, he should have run away and report to the police.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 7th, 15:44
But we insist of being treated equal? I am against hitting any male or female but there is a limit to how much of that abuse I can tolerate. Be sensible. Would you turn the other cheek? Yeah right.
Joseph Sammut
Feb 7th, 17:48
Hallina Mario; int bis-serjeta jew?
Joseph Calleja
Feb 7th, 13:47
Where do we draw the line? And since when is a man/woman presumed guilty at first hand. I thought democracy demands that a man/woman is presumed innocent till proved guilty. Why was this driver fired just because? Give us a brake Arriva. We are threading on a very fine line and one has to be very, very careful how we stereotype other people. The Youtube grand show does not show the whole argument and the responsible person that took that footage should be ashamed of himself, because he did not have a clue of what started the argument or what caused the argument. Sensationalism can do a lot of damage and can ruin reputations. I have no idea if the off duty driver was right or wrong, but he should be given a chance to explain before getting recklessly fired from his job. There is a time and a place for everything. Let us not get carried away with obsessions and prejudice.
Graham Holme
Feb 7th, 13:13
So as well as the "Racist"card,now the "Homophobia"card comes into play.
I am sure like the majority of people,we do not wish to see couples kissing,fondling in public,whatever their gender,sexual preferences.
Seems like all this driver is guilty of,asking these two girls to show some respect,behave with decency in public,then because he reacted to verbal,physical abuse,receives his marching orders for trying to ensure the passengers were not subject to a display of the Karma Sutra
Robert Camilleri
Feb 7th, 11:59
tal misthija li ghax bniedem kien dicenti u waqqaf il dawk iz zewg tfajliet mill jkomplu jaghmlu dawk il hnizrijiet f post publiku jitlef ix xoghol!! deher car mill filmat kemm kienu arroganti t tfajliet!! vera ingustizja kbira li tkecca mix xoghol
Mr John Borg
Feb 7th, 11:37
From the foottage it seems like the girls first scratched the driver's nose, after which he pushed her. Because he was later touching his nose as though to see if blood was coming out.
Robert Farrugia
Feb 7th, 11:21
What if the man was hit first? Who would be discriminated against here? It would have been self defence then.
Anthony Falzon
Feb 7th, 11:41
SOME FEMALES SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY CAN HIT A MAN AND NOT GET HIT BACK JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE FEMALES.. THIS DRIVER HAD A RIGHT TO DEFEND HIMSELF WHETHER THE ATTACKER IS MALE OR FEMALE.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 7th, 15:35
I agree with Anthony. What is good for the goose is just as good for the gander. If you really want to be considered equal, then act it. As we say when we see overdone affection between either men and women, women and women or men and men. "GET A ROOM." There is a time and a place for everything. I think that certain overly affection, no matter by whom, should be kept in the bedroom.
Albert Farrugia
Feb 7th, 11:15
Seems like there is some consensus that this has been an incident linked to some form of public display of homosexuality. Now we talk a lot about how the majority should not impose itself on the minority, etc. But doesn't also the opposite hold true? If the majority of the people in a community do not like a certain type of behaviour, members of a minority should also respect this, and adjust their behaviour accordingly. A tolerant society does not mean that everyone is free to follow his or her whims anywhere at all times. Being a member of society implies respecting the feelings of others, especially when you are in a minority. This in no way justifies any violence against anyone, but one must look at the deep feelings which certain behaviour unleashes. Having said that, this was clearly a case in which the police should have been called at once by the driver of the bus (not the one involved in the incident).
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 7th, 11:51
If the majority does not like the behaviour of a minority they should look the other way. So we respect the feelings of heterosexuals but not homosexuals? Be rest assured of one thing - you are not representative of heterosexuals. If you speak on behalf of anyone it is on behalf of prejudiced heterosexuals that you speak. Many heterosexuals, truly normal heterosexuals not those who are latent homosexuals and who pretend to be heterosexual, find no offence in homosexuals showing public affection. So you celebrate violence in a crucified 'Christ' and you are offended by two men or two women showing love towards each other. How truly warped are you?
ALBERT FENECH
Feb 7th, 12:30
Well Mr Chetcuti, I for one do NOT want to see:
(a) a man and a woman groping and titillating themselves in public;
(b) two men groping and titillating themselves in public;
(3) two women groping and titillating themselves in public.
Those that feel the need to do so should consult a behavioural psychiatrist. If people want to grope and titillate each other they should do so privately. The next step would be to have people urinating and defecating in public on the pretext it was "urgent". We have enough asses militating in the public domain without adding and contributing to them.
ALBERT FENECH
Stanley Colombo
Feb 7th, 16:41
Mr. Chetcuti, if I were to appear completely naked in front of your wife or daughter, would you not tell me anything and ask them to look the other way? If the majority of the maltese people are against immigrants does that warrant letting them drown without even offering them shelter? Does because many people swear these days make it mandatory for those who don't to listen to them?
This is not about majority or sexual orientation - it is about what is allowable to happen in public and not. If anyone does something to me that I dislike, I have every right in the world to protest because I have my own human rights just as much as you and any homosexual person has. This public love thing is becoming too much of an excuse for justifying immoral behaviours - anyone remember the Hippies??
By the same book, everyone has the right to smoke, but my right to clean air takes over. And before anyone starts the usual hype of the power station (without condoning pollution) I remind you that from the power station we get one of the most useful things in life. From cigarettes we get nothing but cancers and profits for unscrupulous mega-companies, and from cancers we get part of MY taxes going for cures - and I pay without saying nothing because I empathize with smokers!
Crucified Christ is NOT celebrated violence. What is celebrated is Christ himself who endured public violence AND humiliation HAVING COMMITTED NO CRIME WHATSOEVER, just to save all heterosexuals AND homosexuals alike. What offends me is bit by bit what Mr. Albert Fenech below explains so admirably simple but effectively - period. If you, on the other hand, derive pleasure watching two women kiss each other rather passionately from what I gather, I can only go as far as respect your opinion, which is your fundamental human right, in as much as is my human right being disgusted by the same scene, without being in any way depicted as narrow-brained.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 7th, 20:44
"So you celebrate violence in a crucified 'Christ' and you are offended by two men or two women showing love towards each other. How truly warped are you? " JOSEPH CARMEL CHETCUTI.
Says it all, about this guy; really says it all! To think how "homo sapiens" contains the seeds of self-derangement! Scary!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 8th, 08:30
Who on earth is talking about groping each other publicly or appearing naked in public? You talk of sex and I talk of public affection. The trouble with some of you is that your mind is always in the gutter. That is what Catholicism has taught you. You do not have any human rights to impose on others what you do not like. If you want to live in a convent, enter one but Malta is not a convent for men and women with pizelli for brains. For the record I am not married and I do not have a daughter. I am gay and proudly so and this year I celebrate 40 years.
Fran Abela
Feb 7th, 11:12
William Calleja - next you will be saying that it is OK to have sex on buses because it is a display of love. Come on. To teach minors we should start from displaying love and affection in the family ambit.
dingaling rockcliffe
Feb 7th, 11:34
That 'll be nice Live and Let Live. Make Love Not War
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 7th, 11:52
No one is suggesting that we should start copulating on the Triton Fountain or outside Castille.
Stanley Colombo
Feb 7th, 13:31
Agree. It depends to what extent they were 'kissing'. It does not make any difference what orientation the participants are. Normal kissing in a cuddly way is more than acceptable on a bus in my opinion, whether between a homosexual or heterosexual couple. Even more so in the family, as you put it. It is however very easy to cross the line between an affectionate kiss and a sexual one, and if they were in any way being indecent (which obviously has nothing to do with them being both girls) and the guy attracted their attention to it in a civilized manner, that's not only justifiable, but his duty in preventing offence of public morals. But NEVER can there be a situation where violence and / or aggression is justified, especially if driven by any form of discriminating beliefs such as homophobic ones.
Incidentally, it's interesting to hear heterosexual men condemn homosexual acts and then hear them fantasize and describe what excitement they derived watching two lesbians in a pron video!!!!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 10th, 04:42
Stanley Colombo writes about "his duty in preventing offence of public morals." Get real. Since when has Malta introduced religious police. Why are people trying to find fauly with the two women. With respect and in spite of my love for the country, Malta is the last country in the world to complain about people behave in a vulgar way.
wayne scicluna
Feb 7th, 11:06
As a person who was 2 seats behind on the same bus, perhaps I might shed some light on the matter....the off duty driver asked the 2 women to act decently in public and all hell broke loose. The swearing and abuse coming from those women was nothing close to disgusting. Also, the first blow was delivered by one of the girls. The guy lost it all when he retaliated but which person among us is capable of being abused verbally and physically and not react? Imho public decency should be observed even on busses. Thanks.
Anthony Falzon
Feb 7th, 11:35
WELL DONE MR.SCICLUNA FOR WRITTING ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENEND, BUT SINCE YOU WERE ON THE BUS WHY DON'T YOU OFFER TO GO AS A WITNESS FOT THE DEFENCE AND SAY WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? WHILST TRAVELLING ON THE BUS MYSELF, NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS THE BUS DRIVER ABUSED AND EACH TIME I GAVE THE BUS DRIVER MY MOBILE NUMBER AND OFFERED TO BE A WITNESS AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IF NEEDS BE. ON THE YOU TUBE VEDEO THE BUS DRIVER IS SEEN HOLDING HIS FACE WHICH INDICATES THAT HE WAS HIT OR SCRATCHED BY THE GIRL....UNFORTUNATWELY SOME GIRLS SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY CAN JIT A MAN AND NOT GET HIT BACK. SHAME ON YOU ARRIVA FOR ACTING SO FAST AGAINST THE DRIVER WITHOUT CHECKING THE FACTS FIRST.
Ms Maria Mizzi
Feb 7th, 12:42
Would the driver have stopped them if they were male and female? I don't know, just asking.
George Calleja
Feb 7th, 12:43
Thanks for giving a vivid picture of the whole incident. Unfortunately many are showing off their sexual orientation in public without showing any respect to others. If they were so much in love why didn't they find another place to give vent to their feelings. Slowly but surely this minority is trying to take the upper hand in society. Everything starts on a small pace in Malta but quickly it takes the upper hand.
Andrew Formosa
Feb 7th, 17:15
The vulgarity of the women was appalling. But why on earth did an off-duty driver see it his place to interfere in the behaviour of passengers? And since you were 2 seats behind perhaps you could enlighten us on what these women were doing that was, according to the driver, indecent?
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 10th, 04:45
Showing their sexual orientation in public with no respect to others?!!! Are you going to ban photographs of a man and a woman on their wedding day, in public, because their sexual orientation offends others? Or is it only homosexual orientation that bothers you? Some people are so styupid they do not even recognise their own bias. Remember you have now joined the Eurpoean Union and the medieval days are over.
Carmel camilleri
Feb 7th, 10:47
It seems that Arriva acted prematurely and should have awaited the court decision before discharging the driver. The least she could do was to suspend him on half pay as happens in many other similar cases elsewhere.
But considerig that Arriva is a private concern and not a public entity and with little union protection one can expect such a treatment.
Fran Abela
Feb 7th, 11:10
I beg to differ Mr. Camilleri - Arriva cannot afford having employees who cannot control themselves when such incidents occur. Having said this, I am rather sorry for the driver because he should not have took it upon himself to admonish the young ladies. I would have said that Arriva should certainly step up its 'anger management' courses to its employees to avoid such incidents in future.
mike Dobson
Feb 7th, 10:36
From experience working in London as a bus driver i find that most times the women, mostly on the weekends at chucking out time are the cause of most trouble on the London buses. Although the driver should be a little bit more responsible by firstly as we used to do is to get in contact with the police and let them take over as oppose to using force. I am not familier with Maltese drivers but i tend to stick with the driver as naturally he is just a man doing his job and the passenger in this case most probably lost their top and had a go at the obvious. Remember there are always two sides to the story and the video is showing a woman giving a BIG loud mouthy bash at the driver.
Mr Victor Fiorini
Feb 7th, 10:15
Well done Arriva for firing this person straight away.
dingaling rockcliffe
Feb 7th, 11:44
That is silly and irresponsible, would you say that again if the bus driver was a member of your family sunshine eh? think man, think before passing judgement. It clearly shows in the video that the girl is giving a big mouth abuse, and its a typical Maltese reaction by using foul language and sometimes as usual inventing swear words followed by Blaspheming. Now i cannot understand your lingo as it all sounds Arabic to me, but i can put two and two together just about make out by the pitch of this individual's voice very screatchy and common, low class quality.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 7th, 15:24
A man presumed innocent until proven guilty. Talking about jumping the gun. Mr Fiorini don't be so fast to judge. Remember there is a time and a place for everything.
Carmel Grima
Feb 7th, 10:08
Anke kif iggib ruhek, seswalment u fuq karozza tal-linja specjalment quddiem il-minuri trid tigi ikkundannata.
William Calleja
Feb 7th, 10:54
Public Displays of Affection would teach minors that loving someone else is a beautiful thing while Public Displays of Bigotry will teach minors that they are slaves and they should obey or be beaten down. Now you choose what you want for your minors.
James Dimech
Feb 7th, 09:48
After Labour put pressure for the old "xufiera u l-familji taghhom" and old practices to be left there, we have LGBT Labour condemning such incidents.
Well LGBT Labour, this is what you get when your party supports Maltese mediocrity
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 7th, 09:29
"and said legislation was urgently needed to deter such hate crime."
If the law has to be changed then it has to be changed in such a way that we REALLY have a non-discriminating law. Such a law should not favor a group of people more then another. Having a law which favors a group of people more then another will mean having a law which is still discriminating, having a law which still categories people as different!! The law should be simple; any aggression against anyone is to be condemned!
Mario Pace
Feb 7th, 09:12
"The video shows one of the women falling to the ground and the man is holding his face and being held back by the driver of the bus."
Who attacked who first?
Ironically, in the video we hear the man in question being insulted by a woman.