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A TAXI DRIVER in Glasgow has been suspended for a month after throwing passengers out of his car because they were speaking in Irish.
The passengers affected said they just wanted an apology but taxi driver Alan McKinnin received a months suspension and must do customer care training after Glasgow City Council accepted he had breached several conditions of his licence.
Anthony Blair (20) and his brother Joe (22) from Gweedore in Co Donegal were in Glasgow visiting their Grandmother.
They got into the taxi on December 16 with their cousin Kathleen McAleer who lives in Glasgow and her friend.
According to The Herald Scotland a statement by the taxi driver was read out at a hearing yesterday:
During the journey one of the party started to sing/chant: ‘There’s Only One Glasgow Celtic.’ I asked the chap to stop. The chap said: ‘You must be a Hun then.’
I said: ‘That’s right, I’m a Hun.’ Two of the party began speaking in a different language, Gaelic I think. I asked them to stop but they continued.”
“Hun” is a derogatory term for Rangers supporters.
The Irish Post reports that Anthony Blair denies either he or his brother Joe made reference to the word ‘hun’.
Witness statements from three of the passengers said that McKinnon told them that “well, when you’re in Britain it’s English that’s spoken.”
Anthony Blair told the Irish Post “I was not looking for anybody to lose their job or anything like that,”
An apology would have been far better. If anything I hope it raises awareness of the Irish in Glasgow and the fact people do speak Irish as a language.
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R.I.P. but a worker with no flotation device, near water? Someone has to answer for this.
@Paul Culligan: Yes RIP, indeed. Why so quick to blame someone before the HSA or Gardai have established any facts? Your reaction typifies our collective attitude as a nation.
@Paul Culligan: if the poor man fell between a vessell and the pier wall most likely his flotation device inhibited his ability to move freely in a confined space. Either way makes no difference now. RIP and condolences to his family.
@Paul Culligan: yes his employer should have told him the dangers of water. But this is ireland so the Hsa is going to have an inquest no doubt. I hate accidents R.I.P.
@Paul Culligan: where does it say he wasn’t wearing a flotation device. He could have banged his head, suffered trauma to the body, with this weather and that early the water would have been freezing, etc. Wearing a flotation device doesn’t guarantee your survival if you find yourself in water.
@Ciarán McPhillips: couldn’t agree more
@Ciarán McPhillips: I’ll get back to you on that one.
Surprised they took him to the mater. I would have thought the port would have to have some sort of medical facility on site.
@The Dublinist: Major hospital 5 minutes away or a docks medical centre. Which would you prefer?
@Heffos Army: Considering the wait and staffing issues in the hospitals at the moment a dockside medical center probably wouldn’t look too bad…
@Jason: is being stupid something you practice Jason?
A tragic case which brings back bad memories of a similar accident while working in the construction if the linkspans (roll on, roll off) about ten years ago. It is often the case that people dont follow safety procedures resulting in harm. Tragic either way
@ChuckE: We have no idea what happened here. Can we please wait before we pass or suggest any cause. Accidents happen. The circumstances described here are not unusual. Water can be a very unforgiving environment. Deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones.
RIP.
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