Man says he punched taxi driver to avoid being hit

A man accused of a taxi driver’s manslaughter told gardaí he threw a punch to avoid being hit over a dispute about a fare.

William Keegan, aged 27, said he and four others had decided to get a cab from a Pearse St pub into the city centre on Nov 21, 2011, but taxi driver Moses Ayanwole would not take five passengers. Mr Keegan said he was left behind in the car as the others in his group jumped out and immediately got a different cab.

He said he thought Mr Ayanwole was pursuing him across the road after he got out of the car because he wanted money for a fare, even though the vehicle had not moved.

“If I didn’t hit him, he would have hit me. He was not getting out of the taxi for nothing.”

Mr Keegan, of Pearse House, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful killing of Mr Ayanwole, aged 41, on Pearse St, Dublin, on Nov 23, 2011.

Det Garda Mark Looby told Maurice Coffey, prosecuting, that Mr Keegan asked about Mr Ayanwole’s age and family during interview. Det Garda Looby explained that Mr Ayanwole had still been alive when the accused was questioned.

He said Mr Keegan told him: “I’ll say a prayer. I hope he pulls through.”

The accused told gardaí he could not remember the whole incident the following morning and admitted he probably should not have gone back to the pub. He said: “The reality is this is killing me. Two lives ruined over something stupid.”

Student Fionn Cooper told Mr Coffey that he and a friend had been walking along Pearse St after a night out when he saw a taxi stopped outside a pub. He said a backseat passenger got out of the vehicle and the driver followed.

The witness said he thought the driver tapped the passenger on the shoulder before the passenger turned around and struck the driver, who fell back and hit his head on the ground.

Mr Cooper said he saw the accused man walk quickly away up Erne St.

The witness and his friend stayed with the taxi driver until an ambulance arrived. The driver remained unconscious for about five to 10 minutes, but then came to and started throwing up.

The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury.