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Man who took part in violent hijacking of taxi driver jailed for three years
Summary
Ross Cahill, 22, of Portrane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful seizure of a taxi van at Castleknock on May 18 last. Judge James O'Donohoe sentenced him to five years in prison but suspended the final two years, noting that Cahill has since been charged with eight other offences and has 30 previous convictions, including two for robbery. The court heard Cahill was highly intoxicated during the attack, where he encouraged an accomplice to stab the driver, Feargal MacEoin, after a €5 fare. In a separate matter concerning a violent attack on MacEoin in April 2012, James Murphy, 20, and Dean Daly, 19, both of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery of a mobile phone, wallet, and cash. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a three-year prison sentence for both men, citing their youth and lack of previous convictions, while describing the incident as a shocking and unprovoked attack. MacEoin stated the 2012 incident left him with significant mental and physical scarring. The accomplice in the 2013 hijacking remains before the courts.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who took part in violent hijacking of taxi driver jailed for three years. Charges or matters: unlawful seizure of the vehicle at Castleknock on May 18 last; assault causing harm at Alderwood Place, Tallaght on April 28, 2012 and to robbery of a mobile phone, a wallet and cash during the same incident. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 18 Incident
- April 2012 Incident
- January 2014 Incident
- April 28, 2012 Incident
- 2015-02-18 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm at Alderwood Place, Tallaght on April 28, 2012 and to robbery of a mobile phone, a wallet and cash during the same incident (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Both men avoided a prison term after Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of three years.
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm at Alderwood Place, Tallaght on April 28, 2012 and to robbery of a mobile phone, a wallet and cash during the same incident (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Both men avoided a prison term after Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of three years.
Defendant
Charges: unlawful seizure of the vehicle at Castleknock on May 18 last; assault causing harm at Alderwood Place, Tallaght on April 28, 2012 and to robbery of a mobile phone, a wallet and cash during the same incident (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge James O'Donohoe suspended the last two years of a five year prison sentence after noting that since the hijacking Cahill has being charged with eight other offences. Both men avoided a prison term after Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of three years.
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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