34 taxi drivers took own lives in past 2 years

THE suicides of at least 34 taxi drivers over the last two years was marked by a slow procession of their colleagues through Dublin yesterday.

The event, organised by taximan Micheal Blanch and the National Transport Assembly of Ireland, saw over a dozen cabs, led by a car carrying on its roof a black coffin shrouded in the tricolour, travel from the Garden of Remembrance to the Department of Transport where a letter was handed in calling for action on the suicide issue.

Taxi driver Tony Rowe said: “There are many factors contributing to this problem, stress is the biggest with drivers working increasing hours and being fined due to be unable to even find a place to park on a rank.