Taxi driver savagely assaulted

A TAXI driver in Roscommon town was seriously assaulted over the weekend by a number of men he had carried to Athlone, bringing to two the number of serious assaults on taxi drivers in recent weeks.

Driver Muhammad Arfan was violently attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning last after bringing a group of four men and two women, aged in their 20’s and early 30’s, from Roscommon to Athlone.

It was sometime after midnight when Mr Arfan was approached at the taxi rank in Roscommon town by the group who requested to be taken to Athlone.

He accepted the fare and during the journey there did not seem to be a problem, with the passengers being in good spirits and informing him that they had attended a wedding in the town that day.

As Mr Arfan approached Athlone he was directed to take the passengers to the Ashdale Estate and as they reached their destination, they told him that he was not getting paid the fare, which came in at over €50.

The two female passengers told the driver that they were willing to pay the fare and indicated that they would go and get their purses.

While Mr Arfan was waiting for payment, two of the men violently assaulted him leaving him with severe bruising and lacerations to his face and body and a severe gash to his head and upper eye that required several stitches.