Taxi Driver Online

Anger as leading tech conference advises Belfast visitors ‘black taxis are run by IRA’

A security briefing document warning attendees at a Belfast tech conference not to take black cab tours “because they are run by the IRA” has been withdrawn.
Organisers said it was “sent in error by a contractor” and contained “significant factual inaccuracies".

The document concerned preparations for visitors to CyberUK’s 2023 conference next week.

The memo, reported by the BBC’s Nolan Show, also stated those with “English accents” will not be welcome in certain parts of the city, and warned that security may be compromised if delegates were to “eat outside the city centre”.

It is understood potential attendees were advised to say they were “under a non-disclosure agreement” if asked why they are in Belfast, and to not use the term “CyberUK” outside of the conference venue.

CyberUK is a flagship event organised by the National Cyber Security Centre.

It is due to take place in Belfast next Wednesday and Thursday, with the theme of “securing an open and resilient digital future”.

Guests from across the world’s tech security sector will be in attendance.

The National Cyber Security Centre distanced itself from the document.

A spokesperson said: "This is not an NCSC document. It was sent in error by a contractor and contains significant factual inaccuracies. The document has been withdrawn."

Former RUC Special Branch head Jim Gamble told the Nolan show: “To label taxi drivers is reckless to the extreme and I cannot believe this will not be followed by some kind of legal action.

“If I was a taxi driver in Belfast I would feel that this, number one, created a level of risk; and, number two, was defamatory to me and to the organisation.”

In reference to advice warning against “walking around housing estates which surround the city”, he added: “It’s utterly offensive and unhelpful. These companies need to come out and issue an apology.

“Those involved need to sit back and reflect on what is going on here.

“If you go to an event in any part of the world and there have been high levels of crime, you may say be careful in certain areas… that’s totally different.”

Tour operator Norman Reilly, who runs Taxi Tours Belfast, said the contents of the document were “a lot of nonsense”.

"It's damaging for my business and other businesses and damaging for the working-class people of those communities,” he told the BBC.

A black taxi driver interviewed by Nolan, identified as Pat, said the document could be “putting drivers’ lives in danger”.

He said several Belfast taxi drivers had just finished providing transport associated with President Biden’s visit, meaning they were “completely vetted by US Secret Service”.

He added: “My friends in the Shankill and I provide tours and for someone to say we are IRA men… I am absolutely disgusted.”

Belfast City Council said it did not endorse the comments.

_________________
IDFIMH

The problem is there is possibly a grain of truth in that statement but it's the sort of thing you should say off the record because these organisations are very secretive and get very angry at people telling an inconvenient truth.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Several Belfast black taxi drivers to take legal action following ‘IRA’ branding

Several black taxi drivers in Belfast are set to take legal action following a memo issued by security responsible for a leading tech conference which suggested they were operated by the IRA.

Solicitor Colin McMenamin informed the Belfast Telegraph that KRW Law has been instructed by a number of drivers following complaints over abusive comments made to them.

Last week it emerged a memo had been issued containing instructions to visitors of the CyberUK 2023 conference, being staged in Belfast, about visiting Northern Ireland.

Some of the guidance included advising attendees to not get into black taxis “because they are run by the IRA” and how those with “English accents” will not be welcome in certain parts of the city.

It also warned that security may be compromised if delegates were to “eat outside the city centre” and instructed them to state they were “under a non-disclosure agreement” if asked by anyone why they were in the city.

CyberUK which is operated by the National Crime Security Centre. It confirmed the memo’s existence, after it was reported by The Nolan Show, but insisted it was “sent in error.”

A spokesperson told the Belfast Telegraph: "This is not an NCSC document. It was sent in error by a contractor and contains significant factual inaccuracies. The document has been withdrawn."

KRW has now said “although the memo was withdrawn” it was “too late because of the reputational damage it caused to a clearly identifiable class of people.”

“Black taxi operatives in Belfast were immediately put at risk because of the toxic content of the memo. We can confirm we have now received instruction from a number of black taxi drivers after complaints over abusive comments made to them,” they said.

“In one of the cases, a driver said that within one or two hours of this being made known he was accused of being in the IRA.

“He has been doing his job for a number of years now. He told us he’s left with little choice but to seriously think about resigning from a job he’s loved doing. He doesn’t want to be accosted like this again. Bluntly, he fears his life is now at risk.

“The ramifications of this are far-reaching. Not only have a clearly identifiable class of people have been defamed, but they are badly exposed here to ridicule and worse. We have no hesitation in issuing proceedings against the offending parties.”

CyberUK is set to take place in Belfast from Tuesday until Wednesday and will feature speeches and workshops from some of the world’s leading tech security experts.

_________________
IDFIMH

Slightly more about the legal angle here:


Black Taxi drivers take legal action over IRA accusation

https://belfastmedia.com/black-taxi-dri ... accusation

UP to 50 drivers and tour guides associated with Belfast's Black Taxis are taking legal action after they were described as working for the IRA.

The remarks were made in a security briefing document warning attendees at a Belfast tech conference not to take black cab tours "because they were run by the IRA".

The accusation was made in a document distributed by an events company hired by the UK government's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) who are holding a cyber security conference 'CyberUK' in Belfast this week.

The document instructed attendees of the conference not to take tours of Belfast's murals and alleged the tours were run by the IRA and also advised them not to mention that they were in Belfast for CyberUK. The document also advised attendees to not eat outside Belfast city centre and said they should avoid certain areas because English accents would not be welcome.

NCSC, who are linked to Britain's Intelligence organisation GCHQ put out a statement saying the document was not linked to them and was sent in error because it contained factual inaccuracies.

Lawyers representing the taxi drivers have confirmed they would be taking action against GCHQ because of reputational damage caused to a cross-community group of taxi drivers.

KRW Law in Belfast stated the document had put Black Taxi drivers in Belfast at risk because of the toxic content of the memo.

The firm confirmed they have received instruction from a number of drivers after complaints over abusive comments were made to them.

Solicitor Colin McMenamin from KRW LAW Defamation and Social Media Law Department said: “In one of the cases a driver said that within one or two hours of this being made known he was accused of being in the IRA. He has been doing his job for a number of years now.

"He told us he’s left with little choice but to seriously think about resigning from a job he’s loved doing. He doesn’t want to be accosted like this again. Bluntly, he fears his life is now at risk.

"The ramifications of this are far reaching. Not only have a clearly identifiable class of people been defamed but they are badly exposed here to ridicule and worse. We have no hesitation in issuing proceedings against the offending parties “

Pádraig Ó Muirigh from Ó Muirigh Solicitors also confirmed they will be representing taxi drivers and tour guides, including Belfast Taxi’s CIC.

Solicitor Pádraig Ó Muirigh said: "For over 40 years Belfast Taxis CIC (formerly West Belfast Taxis) has been central in respect to the provision of local transportation services primarily in North and West Belfast. The delivery of this community-based service has sustained thousands of jobs in times of political and social unrest while contributing significantly to the economic life of Belfast.

"The accusations made against Belfast Taxi’s CIC’s Directors and its drivers are false, unfounded and defamatory. We will take whatever steps are necessary to vindicate our client’s position in relation to any defamatory comments made against them will not hesitate to issue legal proceedings where necessary."

When defamation was mentioned in the first article, I assumed it was just sabre-rattling, but they're obviously taking it a bit further. Can't see it coming to court, though, but you never know.

But, legally, think you'd have to be part of a clearly defined group to be defamed in this way. So if it was just about 'Manchester taxis', say, then it would probably be too broad a group and too ill-defined (particularly given the use of the generic t-word) to justify taking action.

(The problem with a reference to a diffuse group like 'taxi drivers' would be demonstrating who precisely the remark was made about, and also as regards demonstrating any tangible reputational damage.)

It's not entirely clear what was said in Belfast, but obviously 'black cabs' is more of a distinct group than 'taxis' generally. And it may be that the reference was specifically to black cabs involved in tours, which seems to be quite a distinct market in Belfast, but it's not clear precisely what was said.

(And, of course, if a specific business had been named, or individual people, then the obviously it would be a whole lot easier to argue that it's defamatory.)

Another slightly odd thing about it all is how it came into the public domain. After all, if it hadn't all kicked off, the information would have only been seen be quite a small and distinct group of people, and to that extent any reputation damaged and exposure to danger would have been limited. But once it got into the press etc, then the whole world got to know about it

Which, to a degree, would probably limit the liability of who made the original statement, because they weren't responsible for its now very wide dissemination. Which is again another reason I doubt it will get to court. Maybe a public apology and damages settlement

On the other hand, if the claim was effectively GCHQ sourced, then they might well have some evidence to substantiate the allegation, but maybe the problem is tarring a big but clearly identifiable group with the same brush

Good luck with that bugger.

The drivers will have to, at some time, quantify their losses. That will involve the courts looking into their tax returns.

Hmmmmmm.

_________________
IDFIMH