Taxi passenger who disputed price of fare is fined €150
By Brendan Grehan
A TAXI passenger with 60 previous convictions, who was arrested after a row with a taxi-driver over a fare, was fined €150 by Blanchardstown District Court.
Joseph Gleeson’s solicitor, Brian Coveney, told Judge David McHugh that his client had thought the fare would be a certain amount and it turned out to be more.
Blanchardstown District Court
Gleeson, aged 36, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to public drunkenness, engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and resisting arrest at Castlegate Grange, Adamstown, Lucan, on February 15, 2019.
Gleeson had also been charged with criminal damage at Lucan Garda Station on the above date, but this was struck out by the prosecution.
Garda Clare Higgins told the court that at 4.35am on the above date, she had responded to a call to go to Castlegate Grange in Adamstown as a taxi driver was having a problem with a passenger. Arriving at the scene, she said Gleeson was highly abusive to the gardai and was intoxicated. Garda Higgins told Judge McHugh that Gleeson was arrested and taken to Lucan Garda Station.
She said Gleeson had 60 previous convictions. Of the 60, 35 were for public order offences and 14 were for failing to appear in court.
Mr Coveney said his client had got into an argument with a taxi driver.
He said: “He had got a taxi from town and had agreed a fare with the taxi driver and the fare turned out to be more.”
Mr Coverney said his client had suffered bouts of homelessness in the past, but was now in secure accomodation.
Judge McHugh fined Gleeson €150 for breaching the peace and took the other charges into consideration.
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