Courts / Dublin / Report

Taxi driver who took off with inter-county playing garda hanging onto car avoids jail

Date
2024-02-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 February 2024, taxi driver Neville Griffin, aged 49, pleaded guilty to endangerment after a 2021 incident in which he drove off while an inter‑county playing Garda was pursuing a suspect. Griffin, who had five prior convictions, was described by the judge as having acted in a "spur of the moment" decision, a "total misjudgement" that was "extremely dangerous." He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, but the sentence was fully suspended on strict conditions, including a €3,500 payment to the injured Garda within 12 months. Griffin brought €1,500 to court as a token of remorse. The Garda, who was injured and out of work for seven weeks, received medical treatment and was unable to resume county training. The court noted Griffin's good character and the lack of serious harm caused, but upheld the suspended sentence for the offence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Taxi driver who took off with inter-county playing garda hanging onto car avoids jail. Charges or matters: endangerment at River Road, Dublin 7 on January 3, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 3, 2021 Incident
2024-02-19 Publication

Case subjects

Neville Griffin

Defendant

Charges: endangerment at River Road, Dublin 7 on January 3, 2021 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Photo: Collins) By Fiona Ferguson & David O'Sullivan A taxi driver who drove off as an inter-county playing garda who was attempting to apprehend a fleeing suspect held onto his car has been given a fully suspended sentence. Judge Nolan sentenced Griffin to two years' imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions.