A Claremorris man was fined €600 and given the benefit of the probation act in Ballinrobe District Court last week after he pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal taxi driver. The court heard that John McHugh, Caltragh, Claremorris, picked up two women on the night of August 30 2008 at a pub in Hollymount and dropped them off at another pub in Ballyglass. When the women realised the next day that McHugh was not a legal taxi they made a complaint to the gardaí. When they spoke to McHugh he admitted to the charge.
Solicitor for McHugh, Cathy McDarby, told the court her client was a 57-year-old single man and that he admitted the offence to the gardaí as soon as they spoke to him. She continued saying that her client lived alone and he had done this a few times before as it got him out of the house and gave him something to do, and there was nothing sinister about his actions at all. Judge Kevin Kilrean directed that McHugh pay €600 and gave him the benefit of the probation act.
