Teen charged with killing of taxi driver

Teen charged with killing of taxi driver

Jan 17 2008 by Linda Richards, Evening Chronicle

A TEENAGER has been charged with the manslaughter of a popular taxi driver.

Pensioner Raymond Quigley, of Nursery Lane, Gateshead, died following a dispute over an unpaid fare with a passenger he dropped off in Ryhope, Sunderland, on September 2.

The 72-year-old had driven from Newcastle to Ryhope in the early hours and police believe he was attacked at around 3.30am.

Passers-by, including another taxi driver, went to his assistance. But the grandfather died of heart failure an hour later at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Police launched a major inquiry after Mr Quigley, who was just weeks away from retiring, was found in the middle of the road.

His taxi, a black VW Passat, was later found abandoned in Waterworks Road and was searched for clues by a forensics team.

Mr Quigley’s wife Dorothy, and sons, Danny, Pat, and Shaun, and daughter Maria, were left devastated by the tragedy.

Shaun described him as a “superhero”. He said: “He gave all he could to his children. He was a real gentleman.”

Mr Quigley was one of 10 children who had lived in Felling all his life. He’d been a taxi driver for more than 40 years and was due to celebrate his 73rd birthday.

Hundreds of friends and family packed into St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Newcastle for a funeral at the place of worship he attended every Sunday.

Patrick told mourners that speaking at his dad’s funeral was the greatest honour he had ever had because his dad was the greatest man who ever lived.

“The world was a wonderful place with my dad in it,” he said. “He lived for his family and he was never too busy or preoccupied to be there for us if we had a problem. He gave us an idyllic childhood.

“He worked to live, he didn’t live to work. He didn’t drink, smoke or gamble and gave every bit of money and time he had to his family.”

Shocked fellow taxi drivers paid tribute to their colleague by accompanying him from the taxi ranks on his last journey. A cavalcade of cabs followed his hearse from his home to the cathedral.

Dale Patterson, 18, from Manila Street, Sunderland, has been charged with manslaughter and making off without payment and will appear at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 30.