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THE TAXI DRIVER who received a phone call from Dara Murphy looking for a lift has questioned the junior minister’s version of events.
The European Affairs Minister was heavily criticised after it emerged two gardaí in Cork drove him over 200 kilometres to Dublin for an early-morning flight.
The Fine Gael minister sought help after his car broke down on the motorway outside Mitchelstown at around 3am on 13 September.
Murphy, who was travelling with his wife Tanya, was on his way to to Dublin Airport to catch a 6.40am flight to Brussels for an EU meeting on the refugee and migrant crisis.
Taxi driver Gerdy Murphy told Saturday with Claire Byrne he received a call from the TD but initially turned down the run, stating: “I was concerned of driver fatigue, I had been working that night.”
He said he tried but failed to secure another driver.
The driver, who pointed out the two are not related, said the minister had offered to drive part of the way if he became too tired.
‘Too expensive’
Murphy said the TD told him he would “make alternative arrangements” when he was informed the journey would cost a minimum of €300.
According to reports in the Irish Daily Star and Irish Examiner, the minister contacted gardaí in Fermoy and two on-duty officers drove the minister to Dublin Airport – a 214 kilometre trip.
Speaking to RedFM News, the minister denied that he refused the lift because it would cost too much.
I think there was a fare mentioned but by the time he would have come out we were already well gone by the time he came back, whether it was him or someone else who came back. Actually, I’m not sure.
The taxi driver said he doubted gardaí were already on the road with the minister when he called back, adding that he would have met them nearby to complete the journey.
On the same programme, Murphy’s government colleague Alex White said it might occur to him to have called gardaí if his car broke down in the middle of the night, but he’d try to get a taxi first.
He added that he didn’t know too many people who would pick up the phone at 3.30am.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny defended Murphy to RTÉ saying it was an emergency situation and gardaí had offered to help.
TheJournal.ie has contacted Murphy for comment.
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Wechat is an app worth investigating because every last bit of data in that is going towards Chinas social credits systems. The CCP had no fuss in banning Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google, Whatsapp et al. But the U.S does this on two apps and they throw tantrums.
@Paul Cunningham: just becasue they ban the use of social media doen’t meant the west should do it also in retaliation. That would be mad! Trump has given no evidnece to his claims of spying however and it is a bit niave to think it is for the protection of citizens he’s doing it. Every single platform out there is gathering information. We all willinly offer our data for free.
@Paul Cunningham: not going to have debate with you the reasons, if they follow the law, then they are allowed doing business in China, but do they want to?
@Paul Cunningham: Strange comment. Sounds like you’re advocating particular laws while at the same time implying that they shouldn’t be allowed.
@Paul Cunningham: agree both countries are hypocrites. WeChat links to social credit system is completely BS. Mostly it’s for communication and hook up.
@Paul Cunningham: This “social credit system” is another piece of western propaganda against China. WeChat has nothing to do with it because it simply isn’t what’s described by the media at all. Most Chinese people would laugh when seeing your comment.
Shutting down a means of communication is worrisome.
The American regime is little too authoritarian. If they can’t buy up the competition, they ban them. Until they can buy them.
@Dean: Election interference concerns, be damned!
I hope trim succeeds with this one
Ever noticed how all the judges who overturn these decisions are West Coast or NY? And they usually lose when appealed?
have your say