Kenneth Donegan
June 8, 2006
London, England

Islington Gazette
(London, England)
June 14, 2006

Robbed cabbie in heart attack death crash

14 June 2006

A "DEVOTED" father and cab driver died of a heart attack when
his taxi careered into a wall just after he had been robbed.

Kenneth Donegan, 51, a former resident of the Marquess Estate
off St Paul's Road, Islington, is believed to have called on his
radio for help when two youths snatched his satellite navigation
system.

Just moments after the theft - at 2am last Thursday - he was
involved in a horrific collision in Banner Street, Finsbury, which
is still shrouded in mystery.

Mr Donegan had told his controller two youths had stolen the sat-
nav while he was eating a takeaway in nearby Golden Lane. The
sat-nav was missing when ambulance, fire crews and police
arrived at the scene.

One of his workmates from city cab and courier firm Destinations
rushed to the scene to see Mr Donegan, who has an eight-year-
old son, slumped over the steering wheel of his Ford Galaxy cab
with his foot still on the accelerator and the engine revving.

He was rushed to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel,
where he was later pronounced dead. A post mortem was carried
out at St Pancras Mortuary on Thursday, and the cause of death
was found to serious coronary heart disease. An inquest will be
opened in due course.

Lee Williams, 27, a former workmate of Mr Donegan, said: "He
was brilliant - always very helpful and bubbly. He was motorbike
mad. As often as he could he'd take his little boy over to
Germany and do amateur races.

"He had a serious crash on a bike a few years ago. He was in
hospital and had to learn how to walk again but he made a full
recovery. That's why everyone liked him - everything that was
dished out to him, he bounced back. He was full of life."

He added: "He was a really devoted father, who always had his
little boy with him. Everyone's just really shocked and feel for the
little boy more than anything else."

Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the
robbery or collision and to anyone who may have seen a white
youth and a black youth running away from Banner Street.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Neil Bradburn of
Islington robbery squad said: "It is vital that we piece together
the events of the incident so that we can give Kenneth
Donegan's family some answers about what happened prior to
his death.

"I would urge anyone with information, however small, to contact
us as soon as possible."

Anyone with information is asked to ring the incident room on
020 7421 0220 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two youths have been arrested in connection with the incident
and are bailed to return in late July.

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