Courts / Dublin / Report

"Fuck it, we'll hi-jack a taxi": jail for addict who robbed taxi to get snow blow

Date
2016-12-07
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In December 2016, 21‑year‑old Carl McGuiness was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for robbing a taxi driver, Harry Boland, to obtain money for drugs. McGuiness and an accomplice, who had been in the back seat, seized Boland's vehicle on Glasnevin Avenue, threatening him with a syringe and demanding cash. After the robbery, McGuiness drove the taxi, crashed into a woman's car in Blanchardstown, and was later arrested in Dublin's IFSC. He pleaded guilty to robbery, damaging a car and leaving the scene of an accident. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted his 48 prior convictions and the escalation of violence after a 2013 prison term. McGuiness's final 18 months of the sentence were suspended, and he was placed on a methadone programme in custody. Boland has since quit taxi driving due to the risk.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Fuck it, we'll hi-jack a taxi": jail for addict who robbed taxi to get snow blow. Charges or matters: robbery, damaging a car and leaving the scene of an accident on August 24, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: A drug addict who robbed a taxi driver of his car because he wanted money for snow blow has been sentenced to four years in prison. CNI source report

Case subjects

Carl McGuiness

Accused

Charges: robbery, damaging a car and leaving the scene of an accident on August 24, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She suspended the final 18 months of the four year sentence.

Places mentioned

Address Area
  • Glasnevin Avenue
Secondary Mention
Residence
  • Beneavin Road
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Incident
  • Seville Place

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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