Courts / Dublin / Report

Taxi driver cleared of biting off part of passenger's thumb

Date
2017-03-10

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A Dublin taxi driver, Lookman Kareem, aged 48, was acquitted by a jury of assault causing harm after a passenger, Darren O'Connor, claimed Kareem bit off part of his thumb. The incident occurred on 22 December 2013 at Richmond Hill, Rathmines. O'Connor said he and three friends had flagged down Kareem's taxi at about 1.15 a.m., laughed at the driver's name on the taxi ID, and tried to take the ID. A verbal dispute escalated into a physical struggle, during which O'Connor alleged Kareem bit off part of his thumb. Kareem testified that he was attacked by a group of passengers and that a passer‑by dressed as Santa tried to intervene. The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes and found Kareem not guilty. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial did not result in any conviction or sentencing. The incident was reported in March 2017.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Taxi driver cleared of biting off part of passenger's thumb. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to Darren O'Connor at Richmond Hill, Rathmines on December 22, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

December 22, 2013 Incident
2017-03-10 Publication

Why: It was the State's case that Mr Lookman became very angry when the group he picked up saw his Christian name on his taxi ID and began laughing because "Look, man" was a sort of catchphrase of one of the women in the group. CNI source report