A taxi driver who transported the individual responsible for the deaths of three young girls to their dance class location in Southport admitted to taking another passenger before contacting the authorities. Gary Poland, the cab driver, participated in a public inquiry regarding the tragic murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe during a Taylor Swift dance class last year, appearing via video link. Poland expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that fear and panic led him to delay seeking help for the girls, only calling emergency services approximately 50 minutes after dropping off the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana.

During the inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall, Poland revealed that he refrained from intervening when Rudakubana failed to pay the fare, assuming he had gone inside to retrieve money. Reflecting on the incident, Poland admitted that he should have involved the police sooner and regrets not ensuring the safety of the children. He explained that he felt threatened and believed there was a potential gunman present, contributing to his decision-making process at the time.

Regarding the situation, Poland emphasized his shock and fear as reasons for not checking on the children’s well-being immediately. He expressed deep regret for not taking action to assist the victims and acknowledged the haunting memory of the children’s screams on that fateful day. Additionally, Poland disclosed that he contacted a friend shortly after leaving the location, expressing concerns about the unfolding events, indicating his state of distress and confusion following the traumatic incident.

In his testimony, Poland described the journey with Rudakubana as uneventful, with no suspicious behavior observed. Had he been aware of the weapon carried by Rudakubana, Poland claimed he would have intervened to disarm him, highlighting his willingness to act if necessary. The inquiry also revealed that Poland attempted to verify Rudakubana’s address before the tragic events unfolded, indicating a lack of knowledge regarding the potential danger posed by the passenger.