The calm taxi driver who was the victim of the horrific racist attack says he's been left traumatised by his ordeal.
Samuel Johnson, who lives in Blanchardstown, has spoken out saying he "didn't know what to think" after a passenger grabbed hold of his steering wheel, called him a 'n****r' and started hitting him.
The disgusting incident happened on the Malahide Road on Easter Sunday with dash-cam footage of the attack going viral.
Man involved in shocking racist taxi video to 'hand himself in to gardai'
Yesterday, a man handed himself into gardai following a mass hunt to identify the man in the video.
Speaking to The Star taxi man Samuel said he was completely shocked at what happened and went home straight after the attack.
He has since returned to work, but said he didn't know what to think as he recounted the night.
He said: "He started to grab the steering wheel and I was trying to get hold of the car.
These five taxi stories from April show just what Dublin drivers are up against
"He continued giving out to me and started hitting me. I was in shock, I was in fear. I didn't know what to think.
"I didn't know what was going on. I tried to defend myself, hide my eyes, my face, my head.
"As a taxi driver we are not allowed to retaliate so I tried to protect myself."
Yesterday the Co Kerry suspect, who is clearly identifiable in the video, went to Malahide Garda station and made a statement.
Derek Devoy, who established Taxi Watch, a suicide prevention service run by his taxi drivers, was contacted by the passenger after sharing the footage to try and identify him.
Mr Devoy, who does not know the taxi driver and was sent the video on messenger by another friend, told Dublin Live: “I hope he [the suspect] definitely gets made an example of because I don’t want him getting a slap on the wrist, that would be an absolute kick in the teeth.
“I was sad for the fella [taxi driver] and I thought this f***er should be caught.
“Not one person identified him, nobody acknowledged who he was. Then he [the thug] contacted me and said he woke up last Saturday morning and someone had sent him the video, a friend of his.
Taxi driver injured and robbed by thug passengers in early morning assault in Tallaght
Gardi confirmed they have spoken to the man and have asked any other possible witnesses to come forward.
A spokesperson said: "Gardaí in Clontarf are investigating the alleged assault of a Taxi driver that occurred at approximately 10pm on the Malahide Road, Donnycarney on the 21st April, 2019.
"A suspect in the case has presented themselves at a north Dublin Garda station and Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry."
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Clontarf Garda Station 01 6664800 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
