A taxi driver has been fined £600 after he threatened a fellow cabbie during a row over fares at the airport.

John Faragher, of Honeysuckle Lane, Douglas, accused the other driver of queue-jumping and told him: ’I will have you. Do not cross me again. You are messing with the wrong fella. It’s my island. I don’t want you on this island.’

The 57-year-old this week admitted an offence of threatening behaviour with another allegation of intimidating a witness being discharged.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court how the incident took place at Ronaldsway on June 13 at midday.

The complainant was parked in his taxi when Faragher was said to have approached him and accused him of stealing a fare.

argument

The argument escalated and Faragher was said to have started swearing and flailing his arms saying: ’Do not tell me what I can do. Do it again, there’ll be trouble.’

The driver, who remained in his taxi, said that he feared for his safety and thought that he was going to be assaulted so he reported the matter.

In court, defence advocate Stephen Wood entered a basis of plea for his client in which Faragher admitted he had lost his temper but denied that there had been any racial overtones in his comments.

He said that he had been responding to remarks from the other driver who he said had told him to leave the island and had accused him of hating foreigners.

Mr Wood said that Faragher had been working long hours during the TT before the incident and that he had overreacted to the man queue-jumping.

’Mr Faragher served in the armed forces and employs people from every race in his company,’ said the advocate.

’He accepts he used abusive language and is deeply ashamed. He made an apology in person to the complainant which had resulted in the other charge.

’I genuinely submit you will not ever hear from him again in this court.’

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that she accepted that the comments about leaving the island had been a ’tit-for-tat’ exchange and also ordered Faragher to pay £50 prosecution costs.

He must pay the fine and costs in full within three months.