WARNING: Cannibal Taxi Driver At Large

Letterkenny man bitten by 'taxi driver'

BY AMY ROSE HARTE

GARDAI in Letterkenny were yesterday (Thursday) continuing to search for a man who is illegally posing as a taxi-driver in the town and who viciously assaulted one of his passengers this week.

The man, an African, is alleged to have beaten and bitten the passenger after he was asked to produce his taxi licence and badge. The victim, Stephen McDaid (28) from Kirkstown, said the attack was "disgusting" and was badly shaken up by the ordeal.

The incident happened on Monday night in the Kirkstown area of the town.

Mr McDaid (28) said the driver grew aggressive and angry when, as they travelled in his car, he was asked to produce some identification.

A fracas developed between the two men, and Mr McDaid suffered a fractured cheekbone, black eye, chipped tooth, a nasty gash and some bruising. He was also badly bitten on his forehead and was unable to return to work this week.

The shocking incident has sparked fears over the issue of illegal taxi-driving in the town and the seeming ease with which anyone can pose as a taxi-driver.

Speaking to the Donegal News, Mr McDaid, a taximan with Swilly Cabs, said the attack was "disgusting".

"I'm still a bit shaken up and I have a face on me that means I can't really go into work. I've been working as a taxi-driver for around three and a half years and I've never come across the likes of this before," he said.

He explained that he and his wife caught the taxi at around 3am on Monday outside the Central Bar in Letterkenny.

"When we got to the house he asked for €25, but the trip was only a €15 fare, so I rose a ruction with him and the wife got out of the car. He said he wanted to take me to the Garda station in Letterkenny and I said that was ok," he said.

Minutes later, he asked the driver to show him his taxi licence and relevant identity cards.

"He got all aggressive with me and I soon realised I was in an illegal taxi. I reached for my phone to ring the guards, and as soon as my phone came out he pulled it off me, and he still has it to this day. He took out his phone and I went to take that off him, but the two of us ended up breaking it."

The man then proceeded to get out of the car, now parked near the Tir na nOg pub, and removed a fake taxi plate from the vehicle's roof before placing it in the boot.

"He came round to the passenger side to get me out of the car, but I was holding on - I wouldn't get out for him as I wanted to go to the Barracks - so he started battering at me in the door. I tried to restrain him, and he sunk his teeth in me then, just above the left eye on my forehead. It was just the one big bite but it was his full mouth. If a dog had done it to me I'd have blown the head off it, put it that way."

Mr McDaid fled the scene but the other man gave chase.

"When he bit me I decided he was capable of doing anything, so I made off. He did chase me around the roundabout but then a Northern Irish taxi came on the scene, so I jumped in it and he brought me to the Garda station," said Stephen.

He was then taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he was treated for bruising and swelling to his head. He described the man as being in his 30s, an African, who drove a silver Volkswagen Passat. Following some queries, he discovered that the man has applied for a taxi licence but the application is still pending.

"I know there is illegal taxi-ing going on in the town but I didn't know they were driving with plates on the roof.

"I looked into the car since that, and it the car is pending on a licence so the fella is looking, but he's still an illegal taximan," he said.

"I'm still shaken and if I saw him today, if I was standing beside him, I'd run. I've heard of attacks and this sort of thing before, but somebody sticking their teeth into you when they can do nothing is else - it's disgusting."