Man jailed over hackney fare row

A MAN who pulled the brake of a hackney car when he had a row over the fare and caused a crash has been sentenced at Donegal District Court to a year's jail.

Denis Breslin (28), Mountcharles, Co Donegal, yesterday admitted reckless conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another on June 12th. He also admitted refusing to pay the driver, Colm Doherty, and causing €3,000 damage to his vehicle when it skidded into a ditch on the wrong side of the road.

The court heard that Breslin fell asleep on a bus from Donegal town after a few drinks and missed his stop. When the bus reached Glencolmcille, he had another few drinks before taking the hackney back home at an agreed €40 fee.

There was a dispute when Mr Doherty said he had no change for a €50 note. He said he was going to drive Breslin back to Glencolmcille when he refused to pay. The judge set bail in the event of an appeal.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times