Passenger Jailed for Attack on Taxi Driver in Clare

Alert DateJune 5, 2010 Country: Ireland Address: ennis, co. clare General Type: Racist violence, Hate crime Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Afrophobia, Xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Africans/black people Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement, Employment - labour market, Health and social protection, Anti-racism, Integration - social cohesion, Daily life
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Nigerian
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age 36-45
Victims Number 1
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Irish
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age 26-35
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

A 36-YEAR-OLD Nigerian taxi driver said yesterday he no longer felt safe in his work after a man was jailed for an unprovoked assault on him in Ennis, Co Clare.

Married father of four Batholomew Omoifo said: “For a coloured man, working as a taxi driver is very dangerous. I am afraid to go working because of previous experiences.”

He was speaking after a 26-year-old Ennis man was jailed for nine months at Ennis District Court yesterday for an unprovoked assault on Mr Omoifo on June 5th, 2010.

Mr Omoifo told the court that Azriel Higgins of Creggaun, Tobarteascáin, Ennis, called him a “b*****d n****r” before head-butting him in the mouth, knocking out his two front teeth.

Higgins – who pleaded guilty to the assault and has 14 previous convictions – headbutted Mr Omoifo after refusing to pay the €15 fare to John Paul Avenue in Ennis.

Mr Omoifo required four stitches and dental work costing €2,400, while damage done by Higgins to Mr Omoifo’s taxi cost €761 to repair.