He then worked in a children's home and as a carer for people with disabilities, before becoming a bus driver in 1990 on London Buses route 36.
Shortly afterwards he went on a silent hunger strike outside his bus garage in protest at the privatisation of the service, which was leading to more work for less pay.
[2] Shaughnessy organised a "Reclaim Bedlam" campaign in the late 1990s, initially to protest against anniversary celebrations of the Bethlem Hospital.
They then protested the offices of the charity SANE and its head Marjorie Wallace who was campaigning for Compulsory Treatment Orders (outpatient commitment) – she changed tack following the adverse publicity.
"[4] According to Phil Barker, the UK's first Professor of Psychiatric Nursing Practice, "His campaigning and direct actions helped push the government on to the back foot over their plans for forced drug treatment for the mentally ill in the community.