Bus Éireann has confirmed an investigation has started into how a woman was accidentally locked inside the baggage compartment of a coach and carried for 25km in it before being released in a shaken condition.
The middle-aged woman from Co Clare, who does not want to be identified, was travelling to her home in Ballyvaughan from a hospital appointment in Galway.
On arrival in Ballyvaughan, she is understood to have tried to get her bag by reaching into the baggage compartment but was unable to. Her small bag is believed to have been hidden behind larger luggage so she climbed in to try and retrieve it.
But it is thought she may have fainted after getting into the compartment. The door was closed and the bus continued its journey to Doolin 25km away where the woman was discovered. Arrangements were made to take her home by car.
Unbelievable
A family friend said: "It's unbelievable. I can't believe something like this could happen. She doesn't want to make a big deal about it and I don't know if it's because she's embarrassed or just isn't bothered by it but I know she was very frightened by the whole thing.
“When she got out of the bus in Doolin she didn’t know where she was. She had words with the driver and someone arranged to drive her to Lisdoonvarna and she was taken home from there,” the friend added.
“I can’t even imagine what would have happened if the bus had gone the Corkscrew Hill route to Doolin. She would have been thrown all over the place and would definitely have been hurt,” her friend said.
A company spokeswoman said: “Bus Éireann takes complaints very seriously and we investigate all complaints. This matter is currently being investigated and you will appreciate no further comment can be given pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Asked to confirm the circumstances of the incident, the company said: “We are currently investigating an incident and the details of that incident.”