Poor bastard - looks like he had no football talents...
Dublin taxi driver jailed for transporting €100,000 worth of cannabis
A Dublin taxi-driver has been sentenced to three years in prison after he agreed to transport approximately €100,000 of cannabis, in what a judge described as a “huge misjudgement”. Mark Byrne (47) pleaded guilty to possessing the cannabis for sale or supply at Watermill Drive, Raheny, Dublin 5 on February 22th, 2021. He further admitted possessing €3,500 in cash as the proceeds of crime and possessing a Nokia mobile phone for the purpose of facilitating a drug trafficking offence at Springdale Road, Raheny on the same date.
Passing sentence on Wednesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan said Byrne has no criminal record and is “highly unlikely” to come before the courts again. “I can accept he was desperate for some financial help, but he’s a mature man and should have known better than to involve himself in this criminal behaviour; he made a huge misjudgement,” said Judge Nolan. The judge noted that Byrne, with an address at Richmond Park, Monkstown, Co Dublin, has a very good work history and had been a taxi-driver for 20 years.
Fiona Murphy SC, defending Byrne, said there was no question that Byrne possessed any of the trappings of wealth and that he has now lost his livelihood as his taxi licence has been revoked. Ms Murphy said Byrne had had very serious financial concerns and that his family had been really struggling to make ends meet, so he felt he had no option. Counsel said Byrne was “clearly somebody who was used by somebody more sinister” and cited a psychological report saying he was easily manipulated and suffered from severe anxiety and depression. Ms Murphy said Byrne has a very supportive and hard-working family and that he is very conscious of the damage he has caused.
The court heard that Byrne was paid €3,500 as compensation or reward for transporting the drugs. Judge Nolan sentenced Byrne to three years in prison.
He should quote Barry Burns:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/taxi-driver-caught-with-cocaine-twice-in-a-year-keeps-his-licence-35337290.html caught dealing Cocaine i.e a class A drug to Gardaí. Combine that with being under the influence of cocaine while driving and only getting clean when caught.
You could throw in the fact he was stealing from a customer at the airport too by overcharging:Dublin taxi driver fined €250 after taking man on longer route home
The accountant told the court that he didn’t complain to the driver because “the whole atmosphere was not pleasant”.
50.8k
100
Jul 6th 2016, 8:50 PM
A DUBLIN AIRPORT taxi driver has been fined €250 after he was found guilty of failing to take an accountant on the shortest route to his home in Blackrock.
Barry Burns (42) of Bath Road, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to a taxi regulation charge of not driving as directed by his passenger.
Mr John Conroy told the court that he travelled a lot for work and he gets a taxi from the airport to his home in Blackrock in south Dublin.
He always asked to be taken via the M1 and the fare home was €35 every time, he told Judge Miriam Walsh at Dublin District Court.
However, he claimed, on 20 March last year when he left arrivals and went to take a taxi, the driver, Burns, told him “the M1 was closed and did I see the screen in the airport?”.
Mr Conroy claimed Burns told him he would have to take an alternative route that would cost €10 or €15 more.
Mr Conroy said he used his phone to search the internet to see if the M1 was blocked while the driver asked him should he go via Finglas or the M50. He said the driver was talking to him about where he worked and that “I would be able to claim the expense in any case”.
He said he told him he wanted to go via the M1 and claimed the driver told him the M50 would be quickest. He said he felt under pressure to agree and he put his headphones on because he didn’t want to speak to the driver any more.
The witness alleged that when he arrived at his home the fare was €64.40 and he did not have enough so he had to go into his house to get money from his father. He said the driver provided a receipt, which was submitted as evidence and stated “M1 closed due to accident”.
In cross-examination he told the defence barrister he didn’t complain to the driver because “the whole atmosphere was not pleasant, that is the way I go, through the tunnel, I felt under pressure”, adding, “I said fine go the M50”.
Mr Conroy rejected claims that Mr Burns took the Leopardstown exit and he said he left the motorway at the Dundrum exit.
He said that during the journey he tried to search the internet to see if the M1 was blocked but his phone was too slow. When he got home his mother called gardai to check.
One can only assume Mr Byrne wasn't as helpful to drugs Gardai as Mr Burns was.
Cocaine is an appetite suppressant but clearly didn't work in Burns's favour. Mr Byrne should consider representation from TTnH.
