This article is from page 26 of the 2011-12-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
A TAXI driver in Shannon sustained multiple injuries in an assault after a dispute arose over a fare, a court has been told.
Arising out of the incident, Diarmuid Devanney (22) with an address at Cúl Na Gréine, Shannon, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm. Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shannon District Court on Thursday that the taxi driver was hit from behind with a crutch by the defendant, on February 20 last.
He said that the accused, his younger brother and a friend were in a taxi in Shannon.
He said that they were brought to the town centre and didn’t have the money to pay the fare.
“The taxi driver got out of the taxi and held on to one of them,” he said.
He said that while the taxi driver held on to the accused’s brother, the accused “assaulted him with a crutch”.
He said that the taxi driver sustained several injuries including bruises to the head, hands and arms, cuts to the lips and mouth, while he had a finger broken.
“It was minor enough in the Section 3 (assault causing harm) category,” said Inspector Kennedy.
Defending solicitor Jenny Fitzgibbon said that there was a misunderstanding on the night.
She said that her client’s brother had got out of the taxi to go to the bank machine to get money to pay the fare. “They realised they didn’t have money,” she said.
“There was a bit of a misunder- standing. I’m not sure if it was cultural or language,” she said.
She said that her client’s actions were “reprehensible” and he had “gotten out of control”, adding that he was “very protective” of his younger brother.
She said that her client has “very, very serious health concerns”.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed a fine of € 300.