Cabbie tried to stop him

A TAXI driver told last night how he unknowingly picked up McCann after the chase crash at about 8.30pm.

He realised his passenger was a wanted man when he started hiding his face, ducking down – and asked to avoid certain routes. The driver pulled over when he spotted an officer by the road – but was punched in the face by McCann.

The policeman jumped in while the fugitive fought to open the car door. The driver, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He started fighting with the officer and he picked up a broken bit of glass off the floor and ran off into the fields.’