Taxi driver pulled passenger's bra strap
Wednesday March 10 2010
A taxi driver who pulled the bra strap of a female passenger in what was described as a technical assault had a summons struck out on the payment of €300 to the North West Hospice at Sligo District Court.
Another summons of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour against Raymond Reynolds, Ballyscannell, Ballinful, was withdrawn.
Reynolds was represented by Mr. Gerry McGovern, solicitor.
He was before the court for assault contrary to section two of the non fatal offences against the person act, 1997, at Strandhill Road and the Collooney roundabout on August 2nd last.
Inspector Paul Kilcoyne explained that Reynolds responded to a request of a fare from Kevinsfort Heath at 6.30a.m. on August 2nd last.
He picked up the injured party and she and the defendant were known to each other.
She had used his taxi a number of times and they got on fairly well prior to the incident.
On the journey from Sligo to Collooney a conversation struck up between them and the defendant touched the injured party on the right shoulder and pulled her bra strap. It was a technical assault.
Mr. McGovern said there was no violence at all involved in the incident and repeated that the defendant and injured party were known to each other and when she got into his taxi she would give him a hug.
Inspector Kilcoyne confirmed that the injured party had stated that when she got into the car, Reynolds had asked her "where's my hug" and she gave him a hug because she normally did so.
Judge Kilraine struck out the charge on payment of €300 to the North West Hospice, commenting that a conviction would not do the defendant any good in the present employment climate.
