Coroner urges procedures for drunk taxi passengers

A CORONER plans to ask the taxi regulator to develop protocols for drivers dealing with drunk passengers after hearing details yesterday of a tragic death.

Philomena O’Keeffe, 58, choked on her own vomit in the hall of 38 Leesdale, off Model Farm Road in Cork — a house she shared with her partner Edward O’Riordan — minutes after she was dropped home by a taxi driver at about 6.40pm on February 2 last.

Yellow Cabs driver Ken Kelleher told Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that Ms O’Keeffe was very drunk and had to be helped to her door.