Man guilty of attack in taxi

A TAXI driver who was directed on a wild goose chase from Kinsale to Ballincollig ended up being assaulted by two men who tried to rob his takings.

Detective Garda Rory McGrath arrested one of the culprits, Michael Power, 21, of Farnahoe, Innishannon, Co Cork, yesterday and brought him before Cork District Court.

Power pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted robbery arising out of his part in the crime committed in the early hours of November 22 last year.

Power has since commenced a 20-month jail sentence for another crime and Judge Leo Malone added a three-month consecutive sentence to that period yesterday for the attempted robbery.

Det Grda Barry testified that Power and another man, who was not before the court, got into the taxi in Kinsale and asked to be taken to Innishannon, Co Cork. They then changed their minds and said they wanted to be taken to Crossbarry.

Finally, from there they asked to be taken to Ballincollig and directed the taxi driver to Muskerry estate.

“He [Power] struck the taxi driver three times, breaking the driver’s glasses, and demanding money. He got no money and fled the scene,” Det Grda McGrath said.

Inspector Eileen Foster said the defendant had 15 previous convictions including one for assault, one for assault causing harm, one for burglary and several for public order offences.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke, said: “He had a good upbringing and did his Leaving Cert in Bandon. He started drinking and fell in with people he should not have associated with. He got into trouble in the last two years.

“Fortunately, in this incident, the taxi driver was not hurt.”