Taxi driver fined £1,000 for refusing to pick up blind war veteran because he had a guide dog
Father-of-five Neil Eastwood, who served in Northen Ireland in the seventies, left 'annoyed, embarrassed and ashamed' by incident in Manchester
A TAXI driver refused to pick up a blind war veteran because he had a guide dog.
Cabbie Emmanuel Osayande has been ordered to pay £1,000 in fines and court charges after he was prosecuted by Manchester city council for breaching equality laws.
He also faces the possibility of losing his licence.
Father-of-five Neil Eastwood, who was left severely sight impaired after an accident in 2005, said he was left “annoyed, embarrassed and ashamed” after Osayande told him he would not take him from his son’s house in Manchester to a hotel in the city.
Neil, who relies on Golden Retriever Lenny, said: “I rang the office and told them that I had a guide dog and told them to make sure that the driver was aware.
“The company by mistake sent two taxis and they both came almost simultaneously. I approached the first one that I saw come in. He had his window down and shouted ’sorry, I am not taking you’. He said that he would not take my dog.
“I told him that he was a working guide dog but he said he did not care.”
Under the Equalities Act 2010, blind people cannot be refused access or service – or given substandard access or service – simply because they have a guide dog.
Neil, 56, from Manchester, served in Northern Ireland with the 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, during the seventies.
He’s now an active member of the charity Blind Veterans UK and spoke out to raise awareness and urge other guide dog users to report any similar issues they suffer.
He added: “It is a life-knocking experience that really should not be an issue in this day and age. I want to praise the council for their hard work in this case. The message has got to go out to other councils that they should always take action in these cases.
“It happens all the time all over the country and we shouldn’t tolerate it. Drivers could simply put down a cheap blanket in a footwell - it’s that simple.”
Neil reported the matter to the council after the second taxi took him back to his hotel.
Taxi drivers can apply for exemptions if for example they can prove they are allergic to dog hair.
The council said Osayande, 56, of Salford, Gtr Manchester, was invited to an interview to discuss the incident but failed to attend then didn’t attend Manchester magistrates’ court.
He was found guilty in his absence of refusing to carry an assistance dog under section 168 of the Equality Act 2010, fined £500 with costs of £500 and a £50 surcharge.
Councillor Nigel Murphy said: “Assistance dogs are indispensable for many people with visual impairments allowing them a level of independence that might otherwise be impossible – so it is vital that both hackney and private hire vehicles allow passengers with assistance dogs.
“I hope the severity of this fine reminds all drivers of their responsibilities.”
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