Disabled woman tells all about bus horrors

Martina Haddock talked to the 'MAIL' after reading our story about a young mother who said she was left in tears after a disagreement with a bus driver.

She said she has had three disagreements with an Ulsterbus driver.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same driver," said the 45-year-old who suffers from spina bifida and is confined to a wheel chair.

"One driver has shouted and argued with me on three occasions, in front of other passengers."

"I tried to get on the bus at the hospital," she went on, "I asked the driver if he could lower the level of the bus so I could get on, but he refused.

"He actually told me the bus was not a disabled bus and it couldn't be lowered, when I asked why it had the symbol he changed his story and said it was broken.

"I was not looking any help, all I wanted was the level of the bus lowered so that I could get on the bus, and the driver refused."

Martina said she thought the driver was being unhelpful after an earlier encounter.

She said: "This goes back to a time when I was boarding a bus and the driver put the platform out for me to make it easier to wheel on.

"The driver let people walk on it, which you're not supposed to do, and it broke.

"And he blamed me for it in front of a bus load of passengers - I was left totally humiliated and was traumatised for days.

"On the two occasions since then the same driver has started arguments with me - he kept saying 'you broke my platform'.

"It's a disgrace and I have complained to Translink every time but they don't want to know."

She added: "When I complained they took too long getting back to me and when they did they argued about what had happened, saying I was wrong."

Martina said the bus was essential for her to get around: "The buses are fantastic especially now they have all been adapted to help disabled people get around.

"But on three occasions now the same bus driver has shouted and bawled with me over simple requests.

"I did not need any help, all I was looking was for him to lower the bus, he did not even have to get off his seat.

"When I read the story in the 'MAIL' of the young mother and her baby, I was not surprised.

"But I was shocked to think this has been allowed to happen.

"If someone doesn't want to deal with the public, then they should go and do something else - or their bosses need to act.

"I don't want to get the bus and I don't want to ever come across the same driver again."

A spokeswoman from Translink said: "We can confirm we received this complaint and investigated the matter fully.

"The lady involved has received an apology."