Courts / Dublin / Report

Taxi driver stole from customer

Date
2019-11-06
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Patrick Lyons, a 45‑year‑old taxi driver from Cabra West, was found guilty of theft after he kept a customer's bank card and withdrew €550 from her account. The incident occurred after the woman and her friend hailed his taxi to return home from a night out. Lyons claimed he had returned the card before withdrawing the money. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 December 2018. The judge noted his prior District Court convictions for similar thefts between December 2017 and August 2018, and that he had already paid €3,800 in restitution. Lyons had €500 to compensate the victim and was drug‑free, making good progress. Judge Karen O'Connor described the offence as "devious and unpleasant" and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, stating that re‑offending would result in imprisonment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Taxi driver stole from customer. Charges or matters: theft from the woman on December 12, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Patrick Lyons

Defendant

Charges: theft from the woman on December 12, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge O'Connor suspended a two and half year sentence in full on strict conditions after she said she had decided to give Lyons one final chance.; She said she had taken time to consider the case. "He has been remanded in custody by me to see the inside of the prison," Judge O'Connor said before she added that would be where Lyons would find himself if he re-offends.

Places mentioned

Residence
  • Ventry Road
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft

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