Ryan Doyle fell from taxi in Australia

A TAXI driver has faced a court on Tuesday in Australia over the death of a Northern Ireland man when he fell from a moving cab.

Ryan Doyle, from Leitrim, outside Castlewellan, Co Down was killed following an incident on a road in Perth.

He died after falling from a vehicle in last month in the Belmont area of Perth.

He was taken to a hospital in Perth but was pronouned dead a short time later.

Shamsul Haque Rasuly, 26, is alleged to have driven away as Mr Doyle was getting out of his taxi in Perth after they argued over the fare.

ABC News reported on reported on Tuesday that during his brief court appearance at Perth Magistrates Court, Mr Rasuly was not required to plead to charges of dangerous driving causing death, failing to render assistance and failing to report an accident.

He was released on bail and is due back in court next month.

Police were called to Leake Street about 3am where the passenger, a 25-year-old man, was lying on the road with life threatening injuries.

After interviewing the 26-year-old Kenwick taxi driver, police charged him with dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop and render assistance and failing to report.

It is believed the taxi driver had picked up Mr Doyle and another man at Crown Casino, Burswood, and taken them the short journey to Belmont.

Police will allege in court on Tuesday that there was a dispute between the victim and the driver over the fare.

Police take away taxi at centre of Perth taxi fare death row

The driver then allegedly accelerated as the man was exiting the taxi, causing the man to be knocked to the ground and receive fatal injuries.

Officers and forensic police attended the crash site today to piece together the events which led to the passenger’s death.

If convicted the taxi driver faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

Mr Doyle was a keen GAA player for the local team in Leitrim and had gone to Australia two years ago to find work.

He was living in the country along with his two brothers Roland and Kevin.

Parish Priest Father Peter McNeill said he has just been to see the family in their home village.

“They are totally in shock, devastation and loss,” said the priest.

“The number of people who have been with them since this news came through has been huge, and we will be gathering in the local church tomorrow evening for a mass.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin provided consular assistance to Mr Doyle’s family.

A memorial service was held in the village the day after Mr Doyle was killed. His remains were later repatriated to Northern Ireland for a funeral service.

At the time, Sinn Fein councillor Paul Gribben, who knows the family, said: “It’s overall shock, right throughout the community.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time and also to his two brothers who are out in Australia with Ryan at this minute in time.

“It was a big blow to the area.”