A taxi driver who denies claims he behaved inappropriately towards a female passenger has been given permission by the High Court to challenge a decision to revoke his licence.
Christian Igbinaduwa, a father of four, said he was shocked when gardaí informed him, at a meeting to assess his suitability to hold a PSV earlier this year, a female passenger had complained he had asked her whether she was a virgin and if she had ever had a black man.
Less than two weeks after his meeting with gardaí, he was informed he was no longer considered a fit and proper person to hold the PSV license.
Mr Justice Michael Peart today granted Mr Igbinaduwa, of Basin Street Upper, Dublin 8, leave to bring proceedings against Superintendent Declan Brogan, the Garda Commissioner and the State aimed at quashing the decision of February 9th last purporting to revoke his PSV licence.
Luán Ó Braonáin SC, for Mr Igbinaduwa, said his client was asked on January 28th last to attend a meeting with Supt Brogan at the Carriage Department, Dublin Castle. Without any prior notice, complaints by an “unnamed and unidentified woman” were raised at that meeting.
He client had no idea the interview would be a final and determinative hearing to revoke his licence, counsel said. Mr Igbinaduwa had been deprived of his livelihood.
In an affidavit, Mr Igbinaduwa said he was informed by the superintendent complaints had been made by a lady, who claimed to have been his passenger on November 29th 2009.
Mr Igbinaduwa said he thought the complaints related to overcharging and was shocked and bewildered when allegations of inappropriate behaviour were put to him. The woman had claimed he had asked her “if she had a boyfriend,” “if she was a virgin” and “if she had ever been with a black man.”
He had denied the claims and told gardaí he could not have said such things. Non national drivers and black taxi drivers have been experiencing difficulties and some have even been called rapists, he said.
At the end of the meeting, he was informed by Superintendent Brogan he would make a decision about Mr Igbinaduwa’s suitability to hold a PSV and would also speak to the lady in question.
He disagreed with a note taken at the meeting which stated he had said he could have asked the woman if she was a virgin. He had sometimes had difficulty comprehending what was being put to him by gardaí and the notes taken at the meeting were not a true and fair reflection of what was said, he said.
African-born Mr Igbinaduwa, whose first language is French, said he has lived in Ireland since 2003 and his English can be clumsy.