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.