Useful contact numbers added to Members area...
A judge has referenced the dangers faced by taxi drivers when sentencing a 24-year-old man who attempted to hijack a taxi in Drogheda.Aaron Reilly was masked and wielding a knife when he demanded the car keys five years ago. The defendant, living at the time at The Crescent, Tredagh View, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to a charge of producing a knife during the incident which occurred close to his then home on September 30, 2020.An earlier hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court was told that at 7am the victim received a notification to attend an address at Beechwood Avenue. When he drove into Rowan Heights, Marley’s Lane, he saw a masked man approach on the driver’s side. This person opened the door and produced a knife, saying, “I need your taxi. Get out of the taxi”. The victim refused and offered his attacker money. Mr Reilly said, “It’s insured. You can just give me the keys”. He held the knife against the driver’s chest. The driver said “no” and got out of the Toyota Prius which had a camera system. His assailant made threats to kill him. The taxi man kept the keys in his pocket and made it clear he was not willing to hand over his car. The defendant ran off. A large black handled knife was found in grass and Mr Reilly was seen looking out the kitchen window of his house.During the course of an investigation which ultimately led to the accused, it was discovered that his mother recognised the knife as similar to one from a knife block in her kitchen. DNA recovered from the handle of the bread knife with a sharp edge was linked to the defendant, who had used his mother’s phone to book the taxi.There were 29 previous convictions, including one for possession of a knife and two for assault. Mr Reilly was described as a “Jekyll and Hyde character” who was in the throes of an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He did this “when out of his head”. The Probation Service assessed him at high risk of reoffending in the next 12 months and noted he was motivated to address risk factors.Judge Dara Hayes said it was undoubtedly a terrifying experience for the victim. Taxi drivers don’t know who might get into their cars. He added it was a dangerous business to engage in, but a “necessary resource for us all”.Mr Reilly was aged 18 at the time and addicted to cocaine and alcohol. He had little memory of events. He says that he was young and stupid when he did it. He was doing his best to put matters right, having obtained a Safe Pass and working as a labourer. The defendant had been put out of the family home and was “couch surfing”. His mother continued to support him. A three-year, three-month sentence was handed down, the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on conditions, including that Mr Reilly place himself under Probation Service supervision for a year post-release. A charge of attempted hijacking was taken into consideration.
They have Aarons in Drogheda too! They're everywhere...'JEKYL AND HYDE' | Masked man (24) tried to hijack taxi armed with a bread knifeQuoteA judge has referenced the dangers faced by taxi drivers when sentencing a 24-year-old man who attempted to hijack a taxi in Drogheda.Aaron Reilly was masked and wielding a knife when he demanded the car keys five years ago. The defendant, living at the time at The Crescent, Tredagh View, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to a charge of producing a knife during the incident which occurred close to his then home on September 30, 2020.An earlier hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court was told that at 7am the victim received a notification to attend an address at Beechwood Avenue. When he drove into Rowan Heights, Marley’s Lane, he saw a masked man approach on the driver’s side. This person opened the door and produced a knife, saying, “I need your taxi. Get out of the taxi”. The victim refused and offered his attacker money. Mr Reilly said, “It’s insured. You can just give me the keys”. He held the knife against the driver’s chest. The driver said “no” and got out of the Toyota Prius which had a camera system. His assailant made threats to kill him. The taxi man kept the keys in his pocket and made it clear he was not willing to hand over his car. The defendant ran off. A large black handled knife was found in grass and Mr Reilly was seen looking out the kitchen window of his house.During the course of an investigation which ultimately led to the accused, it was discovered that his mother recognised the knife as similar to one from a knife block in her kitchen. DNA recovered from the handle of the bread knife with a sharp edge was linked to the defendant, who had used his mother’s phone to book the taxi.There were 29 previous convictions, including one for possession of a knife and two for assault. Mr Reilly was described as a “Jekyll and Hyde character” who was in the throes of an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He did this “when out of his head”. The Probation Service assessed him at high risk of reoffending in the next 12 months and noted he was motivated to address risk factors.Judge Dara Hayes said it was undoubtedly a terrifying experience for the victim. Taxi drivers don’t know who might get into their cars. He added it was a dangerous business to engage in, but a “necessary resource for us all”.Mr Reilly was aged 18 at the time and addicted to cocaine and alcohol. He had little memory of events. He says that he was young and stupid when he did it. He was doing his best to put matters right, having obtained a Safe Pass and working as a labourer. The defendant had been put out of the family home and was “couch surfing”. His mother continued to support him. A three-year, three-month sentence was handed down, the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on conditions, including that Mr Reilly place himself under Probation Service supervision for a year post-release. A charge of attempted hijacking was taken into consideration.
Yep, defo a half-baked idea.
