Ross Cahill’s co-accused jailed for three years over taxi hijack

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Andrew Byrne was jailed for three years over a taxi hijack; co-accused Ross Cahill had previously received five years in prison, with the final two years suspended. The proceedings were reported on 15 April 2015.

Byrne, 29, had pleaded guilty to forcibly seizing Feargal MacEoin’s car, producing a knife and driving the car without insurance. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

In his victim impact statement, Feargal MacEoin described taking a final fare at 2.20am on 8 May 2014. He said two passengers, one armed with a knife, threatened to stab him after he drove them to Laurel Lodge in Castleknock, Dublin.

The report said one man opened the driver’s door, grabbed the keys and encouraged the other passenger, who had produced a knife, to stab Mr MacEoin. Mr MacEoin sent a distress signal to his base before getting out of the car. Gardaí later spotted the car in the Howth area and arrested Byrne and Cahill.

Mr MacEoin’s victim impact statement said ripping out and discarding the meter caused damage costing over €3,000. Judge Martin Nolan said the ordeal had severely affected the driver’s peace of mind.

The report listed 71 previous minor offences for Byrne. Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, said Byrne came from a decent family but became addicted to drugs and alcohol as a teenager. The report said Byrne was awaiting a place at Merchant’s Quay drug treatment centre and working as a prison cleaner while in custody.