Endangerment charge against man dropped

CHARGES AGAINST PASSENGER IN TAXI WHICH CRASHED STRUCK OUT

THE case against a man accused of endangerment and being intoxicated in a public place have been struck out at Drogheda District Court.

Clinton Bennet, The Belfry, Duleek was accused of a number of offences arising out of an incident on November 30th, 2014 at Platin, Duleek.

Taxi driver Adeyemo Ogunde told the court he picked up Clinton Bennet, his wife and their friend at around 2am on September 29th, 2014.

He said they told him they wanted to go to Duleek and were arguing about whether or not they wanted to get chips. He said they told him they did want to get chips and he stopped on the taxi rank on Peter Street.

In a summary of what happened, Solicitor for the Defence Irene Sands said on the way home to Duleek the taxi driver said one of them had gotten sick in the car and said they would have to pay a soiling charge.

They told him they had not been sick in the car and said they would not pay the charge. Mr Ogunde had turned the vehicle around and said he was bringing them back to Drogheda Garda Station.

On the way back they were involved in a traffic accident. She said Mr Ogunde claims Mr Bennet took the wheel and they crashed.

She said it was ‘convenient’ that Mr Ogunde claimed Mr Bennet had taken the wheel given that they were being brought back to Drogheda against their will at the time and were then involved a road traffic accident.

She said one of the three has already settled a personal injury claim with the taxi driver’s insurance company.

Judge John Coughlan said the matter would be best left to the civil court and said under the circumstances he would strike it out.