Irish tourists' horror as taxi driver forces hotel room entry to try & kiss them
Samantha Johnson was put into a headlock by the dangerous predator before pal Saorla van Heerden "forcefully ripped him off".
The 20-year-olds tried to reason with the man by asking what was going on, but he was "adamant" and wouldn't leave them alone.
After shouting and pleading for him to leave, they eventually managed to push him out of their room and lock the door.
"I ended up throwing up and Sam passed out on the bed," Saorla told What's The Jam.
"It was a bit of a blur, I think we were a bit in shock about what happened."
The pair, from Belfast, were in Albufeira, Portugal, on a last-minute getaway when the horror unfolded.
Saorla, a student, said: "We were out on the strip on our first night when Sam was feeling really tired, so we decided to get a taxi home.
"We went up to a taxi and the man inside told us it was cash only."
Saorla volunteered to go into the hotel at the end of the journey to get the cash to pay for the trip, while Sam offered to stay in the taxi until her friend got back "to show we weren't going to run off".
But suddenly, the situation turned from friendly to frightening.
Sam, an apprentice, said: "I was sitting in the taxi just having a casual conversation with him, when he decided to get out of the car. I was a bit confused.
"He came round and opened my door, and without saying a word, he took me out of the taxi and put me in a headlock. I was in a lot of shock and kept asking if he was OK.
"He dragged me round to where Saorla had gone to our flat to get the cash."
When Sam saw the man walking towards her with her friend in a headlock, she was stunned.
She said: "I can't remember what was said, but he carried Sam into the room and then tried to kiss her.
"I forcefully ripped him off, but he kept coming back to her - I had to put my hand in between their faces at one point.
"I started shouting - telling him to get off and get out - but he was pretty adamant on kissing one of us."
The man also tried to kiss Saorla, who was shouting at him to leave.
Sam said: "At that point, we both pushed him out the door and locked it."
The pals have shared their story of the incident on TikTok, where it has gathered over 90,000 views.
In the clip, Sam can be seen speaking to the camera as she tells their story.
The women said they chose to speak out in an effort to raise awareness and offer support to others who may have experienced similar situations.
Sam added: "We're going to order Ubers from now on because they seem like the safer option. And we lock the doors at all times.
"I was not as affected by the event as Saorla was. She was definitely more concerned.
"We definitely were worried the same guy would pop up again - I remember scanning every taxi guy we saw on the street."
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Monster Alexander Pacteau faces new trial after jail claims more than 10 years on from brutal murder of Karen Buckley
MURDER fiend Alexander Pacteau is to stand trial accused of having a secret phone in his jail cell. The monster, 31, was collared a decade into his minimum 23- year sentence for killing student nurse Karen Buckley in Glasgow then trying to dissolve her body in a barrel of chemicals. Advertisement 6 Murderer Alexander Pacteau is set to stand trial again accused of having a secret phone in his cell Credit: PA:Press Association 6 The beast was jailed in September 2015 over the murder of Karen Buckley Credit: Handout 6 The student had met Pacteau at the former Sanctuary nightclub on Dumbarton Road in Glasgow Credit: John Gunion - The Sun Glasgow 6 Pacteau was tracked down and grilled by detectives before going on trial Credit: PA:Press Association Prison sources have told how he attracted the suspicion of guards after bragging about his alleged mobile to fellow inmates. It is claimed the handset was then discovered by staff in the lifer's cell at Saughton nick in Edinburgh. An insider said: 'Pacteau had a phone and was telling other lags that he had one. 'He is very quiet and doesn't speak to many folk inside. He thinks he is better than everyone else. Advertisement "He thinks he is something special. But word seems to have got out then the screws got onto him and found the mobile.' We told in 2019 how prison chiefs moved the brute to Saughton after he had allegedly caused chaos at HMP Kilmarnock in a row over staff checking mail for drugs. Two years earlier, he had moaned to warders that other lags were urinating in his soup. Pacteau was 21 in April 2015 when he met Karen, 24, outside the former Sanctuary nightclub in Glasgow's west end. Advertisement Most read in The Scottish Sun Exclusive The Irish student was on a night out with friends when the ex- private schoolboy persuaded her to go to his car. Pacteau was seen on CCTV talking to her before they drove to nearby Kelvin Way, outside Kelvingrove Park. CCTV footage of Pacteau buying corrosive liquids The motor was parked up for 12 minutes, during which time the brute had strangled her and beat her 12 or 13 times with a spanner. The sicko dumped her phone and bag in the city's Dawsholm Park then carried Karen's body into his flat in nearby Kelvindale. Advertisement He then tried to dissolve her remains in a bath of caustic soda. Later, he put the body in a vat filled with chemicals and left it in a storage unit at a farm in Milngavie, five miles away. He then paid to have his car professionally cleaned in a further bid to destroy evidence. But some soil remained on the tyres, with tests proving it had been at Dawsholm Park. Advertisement Pacteau was arrested after Karen's corpse was found four days later. Detectives revealed he had seemed to 'enjoy' being grilled by them over the chilling crime. The remorseless fiend eventually pled guilty to murdering Karen, who had been studying occupational therapy at the city's Caledonian Uni. Caging him at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Rae said: 'To you, she was a complete stranger who appears, tragically, to have accepted a lift in your car. Advertisement 'In a matter of minutes, for some unknown and inexplicable reason, you destroyed her young life.' We told how Karen's dad John Buckley, then 62, from Mourneabbey, County Cork, called Pacteau a 'truly evil coward'. Read more on the Irish Sun The phone case against Pacteau called today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. He is expected to go on trial later this month. Advertisement 6 Pacteau was locked up for 23 years in September 2015 after admitting killing Karen 6 2H8GJ91 HMP Edinburgh at Saughton in Edinburgh where former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray was released today. Picture date: Tuesday November 30, 2021. Credit: Alamy
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kneecap fans at Glasgow gig rally around trio after festival slot cancelled
Kneecap fans gathered outside the band's gig in Glasgow have spoken of their support for the Irish rap trio despite them being axed from festival slots. The three members of Kneecap arrived at the O2 Academy in Glasgow on Tuesday evening ahead of their gig there, where they were greeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators waving flags. Kneecap were axed from the line-up of TRNSMT in the city amid a row over an investigation by counter-terror police into Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, who is accused of terrorism offences related to a Hezbollah flag he allegedly held up on stage. The rap group, who perform in English and Irish, have been outspoken critics of the war in Gaza and claim the prosecution is linked to their views on Palestine. A number of fans and demonstrators spoke to the PA news agency outside the venue about their support for Kneecap, often declining to give their surnames. One called Meghan said she and her friend Amy had originally planned to go to TRNSMT before deciding to go to the Kneecap gig instead. She said it was 'disgusting' the band had been dropped from the line-up, adding: 'I think people are just scared for them to express proper problems in the world. 'They just want to shy away from it whereas Kneecap just come out and say it like it is.' Pro-Palestinian protester Naomi said: 'We're of the opinion the establishment is so under threat, they're having to look to ridiculous means to try and silence outspoken voices. 'We applaud Kneecap.' Cat Train, of the group Mothers against Genocide, said: 'They've been cancelled by money, haven't they? They've been cancelled by capitalism. 'So whoever booked them to play the O2 did absolutely the right thing.' Another fan called Asha, who has been to see the group 11 times, said: 'It's not like they're saying anything that's wrong, everything they're saying is absolutely correct. 'People don't like hearing the truth.' TRNSMT cancelled Kneecap's performance at the end of May over safety concerns from Police Scotland. The police force said it has a 'proportionate and considered policing plan' ahead of Kneecap's gig in Glasgow, which replaced their cancelled slot at the TRNSMT festival. As well as Kneecap's sold-out gig, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar are also performing in Glasgow on Tuesday. In May, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called for TRNSMT to cancel the performance on July 11, saying that 'organisers of TRNSMT have got to consider that issue'. O hAnnaidh was charged under the name Liam O'Hanna by the Metropolitan Police in May, over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig, and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. The furore led to calls from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch for Glastonbury to cancel a performance from the Belfast rappers on June 28, which the festival organisers did not do. Ahead of the Glasgow gig, Superintendent Paul Douglas of Police Scotland said: 'We are aware of a number of events and concerts due to take place in the Greater Glasgow area in the week beginning Monday July 7. 'A proportionate and considered policing plan is in place within the city and we are working with a number of stakeholders to ensure the safety of all those attending these events and where possible minimise disruption to the people of Glasgow.'
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment police & SNIFFER DOG scour Kneecap dressing room ahead of Glasgow gig
THIS is the moment police and sniffer dogs scour Kneecap's dressing room ahead of the band's sold-out Glasgow gig. The Irish rappers are performing at the O2 Academy tonight after they were axed from the TRNSMT line-up in May. 5 Police and sniffer dogs were captured scouring Kneecap's dressing room at the O2 Academy 5 A video shows an officer leading a dog around the room 5 The group arriving in Glasgow earlier on today ahead of the sold-out gig Credit: PA The group were ditched by promoters DF Concerts amid 'safety concerns' around the July 11 event. It follows a row over an investigation by counter-terror police into rapper Mo Chara, who is accused of terrorism offences related to a Hezbollah flag he allegedly held up on stage. They apologised to fans following the TRNSMT decision, and in a bid to "try to make up for it", the band decided to put on a show at the O2 Academy. And ahead of their show, police and sniffer dogs were scouring their dressing room. A video which was shared on the band's Instagram shows an officer leading a dog around the room while members sit on some sofas. Another snap on the group's Facebook shows a van with a 'search dogs' sticker on the side. Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar are also performing in the city today, with Police Scotland "aiming to minimise disruption". Cops also stated that a "proportionate and considered policing plan" is currently in place during the gigs. Most read in Music Superintendent Paul Douglas said: "We are aware of a number of events and concerts due to take place in the Greater Glasgow area in the week beginning Monday July 7 2025. "A proportionate and considered policing plan is in place within the city and we are working with a number of stakeholders to ensure the safety of all those attending these events and where possible minimise disruption to the people of Glasgow." Crowds gather as Kneecap play Glasgow gig after TRNSMT axe Pictures from the venue earlier showed the group arriving and waving to fans, with member Móglaí Bap wearing a classic Celtic Bumblee away shirt. Meanwhile, Mo Chara greeted fans with a peace sign as security led the pair into the venue. Police were also standing by outside the O2 with pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered nearby. Door staff were ordering fans to remove tricolour-style balaclavas, like that worn by Kneecap member DJ Próvaí. Police Scotland have been approached for comment. 5 Mo Chara greeted fans as security led the pair into the venue Credit: PA 5 Police were standing by outside the O2 with pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered nearby Credit: PA
