A Man who stole a taxi in Westport and collided with a car at a garda checkpoint before fleeing has been sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Gerard O’Sullivan (32) of Woodstock, Moycullen, Co Galway appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he was sentenced to the unlawful taking of a taxi as well as dangerous driving and criminal damage on February 26, 2025.

Garda Padraig O’Connor told the court that at 1.50pm, Adrian McGing reported that his Toyota Hiace taxi was stolen from Church Lane, Westport.

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He said they suspected it had travelled out the Ballinrobe Road and CCTV footage showed the taxi picking up another person in Westport before it did travel out the Ballinrobe Road.

Gardaí in the Claremorris district were asked to assist in detecting the vehicle and Garda John Doherty set up a checkpoint in the village of Cross.

As the taxi approached the village, Garda Doherty activated the blue lights and Garda O’Connor explained that the taxi drove into the back of a Toyota Rav 4 which had come to a stop at the checkpoint.

Fled the scene

THE taxi came to a stop opposite O’Malley’s Bar in Cross before the defendant and his passenger fled the scene.

A search commenced but they were apprehended hiding in undergrowth.

The two men struggled with gardaí before they were eventually restrained and Garda Doherty identified them as the men who fled the taxi.

Garda O’Connor said Mr O’Sullivan was arrested but gave no answers of evidential value. The court heard that the defendant has 35 previous convictions including six for theft.

Ms Christina Burke, counsel for Mr O’Sullivan said that her client came from a dysfunctional background with his mother dying at a young age and he started taking drugs at a young age.

She added that in 2023, Mr O’Sullivan’s sister who was a stabilising influence on him died from a brain tumour and as a result he spiralled into drug addiction.

Wandering around

THE court heard that on the day, Mr O’Sullivan was refused entry onto a bus or the train to travel to Dublin due to intoxication and was wandering around Westport aimlessly when he stole the taxi.

Ms Burke said he is deeply sorry for his behaviour and stated that Mr O’Sullivan is a plasterer by trade who wants to get back into employment.

The court also heard that two months after Mr O’Sullivan was given bail for this offence he stole another car and is currently serving an 18 month sentence.

Judge Eoin Garavan noted that Mr O’Sullivan’s previous convictions including armed robbery and the taking of the taxi made no sense other than it was done out of boredom and mischief.

He sentenced Mr O’Sullivan to three years and ten months for the unauthorised taking of the taxi and dangerous driving but agreed to suspend the last ten months for a two year period.

As part of the suspended sentence, Mr O’Sullivan must undergo a residential course of no less than six months following his release and engage with psychological therapy while in prison.

Judge Garavan said he would not back date any of the sentence for time served and disqualified Mr O’Sullivan from driving for five years.

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