Second time caught operating unlicensed taxi
A Ballinrobe man who was caught operating an unlicensed taxi service for a second time and drove an investigator posing as a customer to the races has been disqualified from driving and fined €1,000.
Patrick Sweeney, aged 65, of Kilmaine Road, Ballinrobe pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to operating an unlicensed taxi service at Ballinrobe Racecourse on May 2, 2023.
The defendant was also charged with being an unlicensed driver who did not have a valid licence.
The court heard Eugene McHale, a compliance officer with the National Transport Authority, was acting upon information received.
He asked a publican if there was a taxi available to bring him to the race meeting and the publican called Sweeney and he was picked up shortly after 4.30pm.
Mr McHale was then brought to the event and charged €5 for the fare by the defendant before he identified himself.
“He admitted the vehicle was not licensed and he said he was not the holder of a small public service vehicles (SPSV) licence,” said McHale. “He then admitted he had charged me €5.” Mr McHale had then asked Sweeney if he had anything to say and he replied, “I’m going to stop this type of work.” The compliance officer told Judge Fiona Lydon he had come across retiree Sweeney before and she heard he was convicted of a similar offence in 2016.
Mr McHale said the defendant was very cooperative and apologetic and he had not come to any attention since then.
Solicitor Cathy McDarby stated Sweeney was easily led and his daughter has moved closer to Ballinrobe to support him. She also helped him to get a new mobile phone number so he no longer receives calls from people requesting lifts.
Ms McDarby said Sweeney is ‘exceptionally sorry’ for being before the courts again.
“He has stopped driving and he is now taking public transport,” she added.
Judge Lydon said she had concerns it was a second conviction for this type of offence and she imposed a one year driving ban and the fine with ten months to pay.
She also directed Sweeney to cover €300 court costs incurred by the NTA.
