Courts / Dublin / Report

Dublin man jailed for three years for seizing taxi

Date
2015-04-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 April 2015, Andrew Byrne, aged 29, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawfully seizing the taxi of Feargal MacEoin by force. Byrne pleaded guilty to the offence, to producing a knife, and to driving the vehicle without insurance. He was found to have used a knife to threaten MacEoin after the driver had initially refused a fare. MacEoin, a taxi‑driver who had been threatened with a knife and forced to drive the men to Castleknock, gave a victim impact statement describing the ordeal as "horrific" and noting that he no longer feels safe working. The court noted that the incident had severely affected MacEoin's peace of mind. Byrne's sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the three‑year term. The case also involved co‑accused Ross Cahill, who had previously received a five‑year sentence with two years suspended.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dublin man jailed for three years for seizing taxi. Charges or matters: the offence, as well as to producing a knife and driving the car without insurance. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 8, 2014 Other
2015-04-15 Publication

Why: "I'm totally uptight because I don't know what's going to happen," he said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Andrew Byrne

Convicted Person

Charges: the offence, as well as to producing a knife and driving the car without insurance (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Andrew Byrne (29), with an address at Fortlawn Avenue, Clonsilla, was sentenced to three years in prison for unlawfully seizing Mr MacEoin's car by force.

Ross Cahill

Background Person

Outcome: Ross Cahill, from Portrane Road, Donabate, Co Dublin, was previously sentenced to five years in prison with the final two years suspended.