Daughter hits out at £400 fine for taxi driver

Becky Thomson says she ‘can’t help feeling angry’ over the sentence

A Dundee woman has said she “can’t help feeling angry” after a Glasgow taxi driver was fined just £400 for his part in the accident that killed her father.

Joseph Connelly, 54, parked his cab on a bend on Keppochil Road in Glasgow on May 20 last year.

When he opened his door, he hit 67-year-old David Thomson, who was cycling past on his way home.

As a result, Mr Thomson, who is originally from the Ardler area of Dundee, went over the handlebars of his bike, hitting his head on the ground as he landed. He was taken to hospital but died two days later.

Connelly originally claimed Mr Thomson had not struck the door but had swerved to avoid it, although the collision was captured on CCTV.

He later pleaded guilty to opening the door while his taxi was parked “to the endangerment and injury” of Mr Thomson.

His lawyer, Robert Sheridan, told Glasgow Sheriff Court that Connelly has been “devastated” by the accident.

“It’s something that will live with him for a considerable period of time,” he said.

However, Mr Thomson’s daughter Becky, who still lives in Dundee, said she is angry that Connelly originally tried to deny his role in the accident.

She said: “The last year-and-a-half has been a living nightmare.

“No matter what his sentence was it wouldn’t bring my dad back.

“I feel upset that he’s saying he has to live with the accident every day. He only pleaded guilty once the CCTV had been released. His previous pleas were not guilty which caused a lot of trauma over the last year.”

She added: “My dad was a decent human being and I know he wouldn’t want me dwelling on this sentence, but you can’t help feeling angry that a stupid mistake cost my dad his life, especially with his cycling history.”

Mr Thomson was an experienced cyclist who often went on cycling holidays to the Alps.

He was an organ donor and Becky, 31, received an Order of St John’s medal in recognition of his donation last month.

Fining Connelly at court yesterday, Sheriff Celia Sanderson said the incident was “tragic” and she noted her “surprise” at the charge Connelly faced.

She pointed out he had not been charged with causing Mr Thomson’s death.

Mr Sheridan said his client now accepts that although he checked before getting out of his car, given the position of the other taxi “the responsibility was on him to go further than he would normally to ensure there was no other hazards there”.

David Thomson died as a result of the accident in Glasgow.