Taximan jumped into river to avoid Gardaí

The inquiry into the death of a taxi driver, who jumped into the River Corrib minutes after being told his vehicle was to be seized by Gardaí, heard that he had refused to save himself when a life buoy was thrown at him.

At Galway Courthouse on Friday, the jury of 10 men and one woman returned a verdict that David Johnston (42), a Scottish national who was living in Sleepzone Hostel, had died by suicide on the evening of February 5 2014.

The Coroner for West Galway, Dr Ciaran MacLoughlin, had given them two choices – either his actions were intentional, or that he was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time.

Mr Johnston was parked at the taxi rank near St Pat’s NS on Bridge Street at about 6.15pm when he came to the attention of Sgt Brendan Moore, as he was not sitting in his usual vehicle.

He had frequently come to Garda notice in the past, on one occasion nearly driving over a Garda’s feet as he attempted to evade detection.

Sgt Moore, who approached with two other colleagues, noted that the vehicle displayed an insurance disc which was valid for just one date in January 2014. The driver could show no proof of a valid policy, and he was informed that the vehicle was to be seized – as was normal procedure, and particularly in the case of a public service vehicle.

“He said: ‘OK lads’ and calmly walked to the back of the car,” Sgt Moore said.

“I presumed he wanted to take something out of the back, but he climbed over the (bridge) wall.”

Another Garda tried to catch him before he jumped, but was too late, and Mr Johnston slid into the river.

“We ran towards Wolfe Tone Bridge, but the first two life buoy stands were empty,” Sgt Moore added.

“When I got to the third, near Jury’s, I could see that he was still alive, and I threw it in. I shouted ‘Grab the f**king life buoy’. He looked up but made no effort to grab it.

“I will never forget that look he gave me after I had thrown the lifebuoy at him, even though it was within his reach.”

For more on the Inquest, see this week’s Galway City Tribune