Dublin student avoids conviction after admitting refusing to pay taxi fare
The Wicklow PeopleA Dublin college student who admitted refusing to pay an €89 taxi fare after travelling to Bray has avoided a conviction after compensating the driver in full.
Sean Omuruyi (21), of Bridgewater Quay, Islandbridge, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to one count of refusing to pay a taxi fare at a sitting of Bray District Court.
Sergeant Mick Dee informed the court that on May 20, the accused was collected by taxi in Kilmainham, Dublin 8, before being taken to an address in Bray, with the total fare amounting to €89.
Mr Omuruyi told the driver that he was going to a house to collect money owed to him by a friend.
When they arrived, he went to the house, but returned and informed the driver that his friend was not home and that he had no cash to pay the fare. He was subsequently brought to Bray Garda Station. It was noted that he has no previous convictions.
Solicitor for the defendant, Brendan Maloney, stated that his client is studying computer science in college and lives in Dublin with his mother.
In mitigation, the court heard that he also works part-time, earning €150 per week as a stock taker.
However, he cooperated with the taxi driver and had made efforts to repay the money but, due to GDPR restrictions, was unable to contact the driver directly. Mr Maloney said that he had €90 in cash to compensate the driver.
Judge Mary McAveety stated that Mr Omuruyi was “a young man in a silly situation” who did not try to “resile from or evade the issue”. She directed that the €90 be paid to the taxi driver and applied the Probation Act, leaving the defendant without a conviction.