Ballinrobe man (80) promise to stop illegal taxi

AN 80-year-old Ballinrobe man who operated an illegal hackney taxi business gave an undertaking under oath to stop the activity saying he did ‘not want the hassle’.
John Farragher of Knocknakillew, Ballinrobe appeared before last week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court after he was caught in a ‘sting operation’ by a compliance officer from the National Transport Authority.
Compliance officer, PJ McHale told the court that on January 26, 2015 he was aware of an illegal hackney operating in Ballinrobe. He rang the number and asked for a taxi to Hollymount from Supermac’s in Ballinrobe.
When the car arrived, the driver said he was the taxi driver and brought him to Hollymount with the fare coming to €10. Mr McHale said he identified himself and asked Mr Farragher if he had a licence to which he responded he did not.
The court heard that Mr Farragher had a previous conviction for operating without a valid licence in 2012 and was fined €100.
Defending solicitor Tom Walsh said his client’s son had a taxi licence but had given up and Mr Farragher never had a licence.
When asked by Judge Mary Devins why he did it for €10, the defendant replied that he obliged people from time to time. When asked if he would given an undertaking not to operate an illegal taxi again, he responded he would saying he did not want the hassle in ‘my age in life’.
Judge Devins struck out the charge after Mr Farragher gave the undertaking under oath.