Women warned over taxi attacker

Women taking taxis were yesterday urged to be cautious after it emerged gardai are investigating an allegation a passenger was raped by a cabbie driving her home.

The serious allegation is being probed by gardai in Swords, Co Dublin, where she said she was raped.

A garda spokesperson said no one has yet been arrested for the offence and that the inquiry is ongoing.

They are also investigating a separate sexual assault in June last year on another woman who said the driver put his hand on her leg in a sexual and aggressive manner.

The woman was being taken from Connolly station to the Aisling Hotel near Heuston Station in the capital.

The distressed passenger rushed into the hotel where gardai were called.

The man was questioned but claimed his hand slipped of the steering wheel.

Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, said similar incidents have occurred involving taxi drivers.

She said everybody should have numbers keyed into their phones which can be called in an emergency.

President of the National Taxi Drivers Union, Tommy Gorman, said people especially women need to be cautious when getting a taxi, especially late at night and to take precautions.

He said: “Make sure you’ve the plate number and always ask for a receipt so the driver can be placed.”

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