Warners Bay mother Jade Marr describes what happened before Karen Bailey’s racist rant on train was caught on camera

WE’VE all seen the video of the racist rant on the train. But here’s what happened before the filming started, which kicked off the shameful ordeal.

YOU’VE seen the video of the racist rant on the train — now, a mother who was there has revealed what happened before the filming began.

The shameful ordeal was sparked when 55-year-old Karen Bailey, who had previously said her name was Sue Wilkins, abused three children for not giving up their seat on the train from Sydney to Newcastle on Wednesday afternoon.

Jade Marr was travelling home to Warners Bay from Sydney after seeing the Lion King when Ms Wilkins launched a tirade against her daughter, Kendall, 10, son Jackson, 7, and nephew William Selway, 7.

Warners Bay mum, Jade Marr, with her children Kendall, 10, and Jackson, 7, who were abused on a Sydney train by a woman because they were sitting on seats. Picture: Peter Lorimer

“The train was filling up, it was getting quite busy, the next thing this woman came up and started yelling,” Mrs Marr told news.com.au.

“She said, ‘Get your f---ing bogan kids off the seat’.

“They sort of tried to get out of her way, and that’s when I hopped in front of them.

“I asked her very nicely to move away, but she screamed into my son’s face.”

Ms Bailey continued to use the F-word in front of the children and told Jackson, “You’ll get to learn this word, kid”.

Karen Bailey leaves Wyong police station last night after her earlier arrest for abusing passengers on a train. Picture: Peter Clark

Ms Bailey was then filmed calling an Asian woman a “gook” and insulting a nearby male passenger.

“Who is this little jerk-off? He can only get a gook, he can’t even get a regular girlfriend — it is so sad,” Ms Bailey said.

The footage sparked outrage yesterday as it was shared over the internet.

RELATED: Woman’s racist rant against Asian woman filmed on train from Central Coast to Sydney

Mrs Marr said the passengers were in disbelief over the woman’s foul-mouthed comments, but were united in condemning her behaviour.

“No one could believe it because it started really, really quickly … Everyone really banded together, everyone stood up and didn’t let the situation turn violent or let anyone get injured,” she said.

The children were understandably rattled by the altercation.

“They were really worried that they had done something wrong,” Mrs Marr said.

But the mum was heartened to see other passengers stick up for the children, console them and make sure they were OK.

“They are great kids, all the kids; they were really brave,” she said.

A still from the racist rant video of Karen Bailey.

She said there was one good thing that had come out of the ordeal.

“It’s good to know that strangers will be there when you need them,” Mrs Marr said.

Ms Bailey has been charged with offensive language, which carries a fine of $500.

Mrs Marr thought this was appropriate, but said Ms Bailey living with the memory of what she had done was the harshest punishment of all.

“This is over for us today, but it’s probably not for her. She will have to live with this following her around for the rest of her life,” she said. “That’s her sentence, that’s her punishment.”

Ms Bailey apologised for her comments yesterday, telling Channel Nine that she was “disgusted with myself”.

“I’m happy that she has made an apology; I hope she means it,” Mrs Marr said.

Ms Bailey has been issued a court attendance notice to appear on July 31.

Jade Marr, with her children Kendall, 10, and Jackson, 7. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Originally published as Warners Bay mother Jade Marr describes what happened before Karen Bailey’s racist rant on train was caught on camera