Courts / Dublin / Report
Oil rig worker who racially abused taxi driver and attacked garda avoids jail
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old oil rig engineer Graham Foran pleaded guilty to assaulting a taxi driver and a Garda on 22 May 2015. Foran, who had previously been convicted of a road traffic offence, was found to have punched the Garda several times in the face, fell on top of him during a struggle, and continued to punch him while they were on the ground. The Garda sustained torn ligaments in his ankle, requiring surgery and possibly further surgery, and also suffered wrist injury. Judge Martin Nolan described Foran's conduct as "disgraceful" and noted the Garda's dreams and ambitions had been thwarted. Foran was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, the sentence being fully suspended on strict conditions, including a €5,000 payment to the Garda within one year. The court heard that Foran had already paid €10,000 in compensation to the Garda and €500 to the taxi driver.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Oil rig worker who racially abused taxi driver and attacked garda avoids jail. Charges or matters: assaulting a garda causing him harm and to assaulting a taxi-driver, both at Bull Alley Street, Dublin City centre, on May 22, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 22, 2015 Incident
- 2021-11-26 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting a garda causing him harm and to assaulting a taxi-driver, both at Bull Alley Street, Dublin City centre, on May 22, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said it goes without saying that Foran "behaved disgracefully" by participating in the racial abuse of the taxi-driver, assaulting him and then assaulting the garda while resisting arrest. Judge Nolan sentenced Foran to two-and-a-half years imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions, including that within one year he collect €5,000 for transmission to the garda.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Glendowne Drive
- Bull Alley Street
- Dublin City
Topics
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