Man made off without paying €100 taxi fare
When at the destination, the defendant got from the car, made off without paying the €100 fare and ran through a housing estate
A MAN who got a taxi from Kildare to Tullamore and made off without paying the €100 fare was placed on a 12-month probation bond when he appeared at the vacation sitting of Portlaoise District Court last week.
Garda Sergent JJ Kirby said that at 9.10pm that night, the defendant, John McDonagh from 5 Çarton Road, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11, hailed a taxi in Kildare and asked to be driven to Tullamore.
When at the destination, the defendant got from the car and made off without paying the €100 fare and ran through a housing estate. Gardaí gave chase and caught up with him. When they did, he gave them a false name and address.
Mr McDonagh pleaded guilty to making off without payment, obstructing gardaí and providing a false name and address at Kingswood, Arden Road, Tullamore on 6 August 2025.
Defence solicitor Chris Mills said that his client, who just turned 20, had been involved in a serious road traffic collision last year and suffered from post-traumatic stress.
He said his client “is contrite for his actions and has a long road ahead of him in his recovery from the effects of the collision.”
Judge William Aylmer placed Mr McDonagh on a 12-month probation bond under the supervision of the probation and welfare services and instructed that he follow all the directions given to him by the services.
