Dublin

A Meath taxi driver has been jailed for twenty months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a drunk passager in south Dublin.

Liam Flynn (49) of Hermitage Glen, Kells was driving the woman home when he stopped the car and attacked her.

Judge Nolan called it a “deeply reprehsible offence” on a woman who was entitled to expect she would be taken home safely. He said Flynn had taken advantage of the woman in her drunken state.

He refused a defence application to impose a suspended sentence on the basis that the attack “was a one off fall from grace.” Judge Nolan also ordered that Flynn be registered as a sex offender.

Flynn pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of the woman near her Dublin home on December 2, 2012.

Prosecuting counsel, Gerardine Small BL, told the court that the victim was at a nightclub and had consumed a few drinks when she decided she wanted to go home.

She got in Flynn’s taxi and he took her to close to where she lived. He then got out, walked around to the back passager door and opened it. There was some dispute about whether the woman had gotten sick in the car.

Flynn then put his hand up her skirt and digitally penetrated her before “having a form of oral sex with her” against her will.

Defence counsel, Mary Rose Gearty SC, said her client has no previous convictions and is a hard working, family man. She asked the judge to take into account that registering Flynn as a sexual offender will be a punishment in itself and that he will probably never work as a taxi driver again.

She added that he is taking “all steps” to rehabilitate himself and ensure the incident never happens again.
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County Durham

A MOTORIST blamed a sneezing fit while at the wheel of a van for a head-on collision with an oncoming taxi.

Kevin Metcalf today (Tuesday February 25) admitted a charge of dangerous driving, arising from the accident on Commercial Street, Willington, County Durham, on August 26 last year.

But, Durham Crown Court heard it was on a basis that he suffered the sneezing fit as he was driving the Ford Transit immediately prior to the collision.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told the court: “When he was interviewed he said the initial collision was as a result of him having the sneezing fit and he then reversed and drove onto the pavement, causing difficulty to pedestrians.

“The Crown does not accept that version.”

Mr Towers said the decision was made by the reviewing lawyer in the case.

Recorder Ian Atherton adjourned the case for a trial of issue, or Newton hearing, prior to sentence.

He told Metcalf: “I can’t say what the sentence will be, so I’ll make no promises.”

Metcalf, 33, of Sycamore Grove, Willington, was bailed to return for the trial of issue followed by sentencing, on May 1.


Recorder Atherton imposed an interim driving ban on Metcalf, the full length of which will also be settled at the sentencing hearing.
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Bolton Council tightens taxi regulations after Rochdale child sex ring scandal
LICENSING bosses at Bolton Council are tightening their guidelines to make sure private hire drivers are “fit and proper” people before they get behind the wheel.

As well as looking into complaints of inappropriate or indecent behaviour by private hire drivers passed on by the police, councillors will also listen to child safeguarding agencies, licensing bodies and passengers.

The recommendations come from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities in the wake of the Rochdale child exploitation ring scandal, which saw young girls groomed and sexually assaulted by employees of local taxi firms.

The licensing board has heard several cases involving allegations of indecent behaviour from Bolton taxi drivers over the past year, including a case in October where a driver tricked a 13-year-old into giving him her phone number.

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton council’s executive cabinet member for environmental services, said the regulations were about protecting vulnerable people using taxi services.

He added: “There’s a great deal of responsibility on private hire drivers. This is about tightening up the regulations with particular regard to vulnerable people and actions around inappropriate behaviour.”

In the case of a complaint, drivers would be immediately suspended pending an investigation.

Possible scenarios that might lead to suspension include asking inappropriate or personal questions, asking a passenger for their mobile phone number or making sexually explicit statements.

Asif Vali, chairman of Bolton Private Hire Operators Association and owner of Rapid Private Hire, said he was delighted the council was leading the way with these proposals.

He added: “It’s a great idea for the council to make these changes, to make sure that the Bolton public is looked after as best as possible and we have the best drivers in the borough.

“People’s lives are in our hands and it’s easy to complain, but the truth always prevails. As long as the local authority deals with complaints quickly, none of our drivers will mind waiting.”


The policy will come into force on April 1.
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