Man faces charge of €3,393 damage to Cork city taxi

Damage totalling €3,393 was allegedly caused to a taxi during an incident in Cork city and now at Cork District Court the judge said the case was too serious for that case.

35-year-old Stephen O’Donovan of 3 Dunmanus Park, Knocknaheeny, Cork, faces the single charge of causing criminal damage to a taxi.

Judge Mary Dorgan refused jurisdiction and now the case has been adjourned until May 14 for further DPP directions.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said: “The defendant entered a taxi with (another person) and asked to be taken to (other person’s) address. At the start of the journey the defendant declined to wear his seat belt and a back and forth took place with the driver.

“The defendant then engaged in explicit language to which the driver took offence and drove to Watercourse Garda Station.

“The driver of the taxi asked the male and female to exit the taxi which the female did. On exiting the taxi from the rear right the defendant caught the back passenger door and violently pushed it back on itself a number of times causing significant damage to the value of €3,393.

“The incident was captured on CCTV footage from within the taxi and external footage from Watercourse Rd Garda Station.” 

Solicitor Eddie Burke said the only issue was the extent of the criminal damage and that otherwise there was no physical interaction with the driver.