A former city taxi driver is to stand trial accused of assaulting a passenger with whom he got involved in a dispute over a fare.
Judge John King set the hearing of the case for April 17 after reading a summary of the prosecution case and accepting jurisdiction.
The Court was told that when Gardaí arrived at the scene they found “a lot of blood in the taxi and the road.” They took photos of the bloodstains as part of the evidence collection process.
The Judge was told that it will be alleged the taxi driver accepted a fare at Bridge Street on March 4 last. He took his passenger to the address provided but when they arrived there, a dispute over the fare demanded began.
The driver “looked for cash and a row began” prosecuting Garda Sgt Damien Prendergast said.
He explained that the alleged assault occurred prior to the Gardaí arriving at the scene.
The injured party told Gardaí that he received “blows” to the right side of his face and he began bleeding immediately from the nose.
“So this was not a one-blow event” the Judge inquired. Sgt Prendergast confirmed that the injured party’s alleged blows, plural, were struck. Judge King accepted jurisdiction.
John Martin solr (defending ) said that his client no longer worked as a taxi driver and he applied for legal aid on his behalf.
This article is funded by Comisiún na Meán.
