Man grabbed taxi driver in headlock

A MAN who grabbed a taxi driver in a headlock while he was driving, forcing him to slam on the brakes and veer over the white line, appeared before the District Court last week charged with assault.

Patrick Nolan (52), 89 Cluain Buí, The Moyne, Enniscorthy, was present in court and pleaded guilty to the charge.

Sgt Gary Raynor outlined that on the night in question, the taxi driver picked the defendant up at Rackards of Caim at 9.40 p.m. Nolan was said to have been intoxicated and began shouting at the driver as he started off towards Enniscorthy.

Suddenly, without warning, Nolan ‘grabbed the driver in a headlock and pulled him towards his lap’ causing him to slam on the brakes and go over the white line on the road.

At this point, Nolan refused to exit the taxi, however, when they reached The Still, he got out and walked off.

The sergeant told the court that the taxi driver needed pain killers following the attack and missed approximately one week of work. Solicitor Peter Crean said that his client had certain medical conditions and that he apologised profusely for his actions, both to the injured party and to gardaí.

He said that Nolan has now taken major positive steps, as outlined in a Probation Report handed into the court.

‘This incident does seem to have been out of character and is possibly explained by the medication he was taking,’ said Judge Cheatle.

‘Having said that, he is very lucky that the victim wasn’t too badly hurt. This could have had very serious consequences.’

Having regarded all that had been presented to him, Judge Cheatle opted to give Nolan a four-month prison sentence, suspended over 12 months on condition that he enter into a probation and supervision bond.