BY MARK MCKELVEY
POLICE were called to conduct an extensive search of a school bus after the driver was shot several times on the back of the head with a pellet gun.
The incident occurred last Wednesday (March 7) at approximately 4pm on the 97 Ulsterbus operating between Omagh and Sion Mills. The driver had to pull over at the Ulster American Folk Park and call for police assistance.
Explaining what happened a police spokesperson stated this week, "On Wednesday afternoon, police received a report that a passenger on a bus had used a BB gun and had shot at the driver several times. He was not hurt but considered it necessary to stop the bus due to the risk of the incident.
"Police spoke to the passengers and conducted a search of pupils and their schoolbags. The magazine of a BB gun was recovered.
"Shooting pellets at the driver of a bus was an action of total irresponsibility. Not only did it place the driver at risk of injury, the possibility of him losing control endangered life and limb of all on the bus, as well as other road users.
A 15 year old Christian Brothers pupil who wishes to remain anonymous, was a passenger on the bus at the time of the incident and has expressed his concerns in the way police were able to body search minors without parental permission.
"After the bus driver was supposedly hit with a BB pellet, he pulled over and the police arrived about 15 minutes later. They then got on the bus and asked for the BB gun," said the eyewitness.
"The whole bus was then told to get out by the Folk Park where eight police officers began searching us and our bags without a parent present or notifying our schools. 90% of those that received body searches were under 16 years old and I don't believe they should have been able to do this."
Responding to these concerns, a police spokesperson said, "This was a report that police took seriously and our actions were justified in view of the potential for serious injury - or worse. Police conducted the search under Article 3 to 5 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1989."
