Munster Express Online

A Waterford taxi driver suffered €90,000 in lost earnings after he was viciously attacked and assaulted by three brothers, who are members of the Travelling Community in Waterford, the Circuit Criminal Court was told.

Taxi driver Peter Griffin was forced to sell part of his taxi business because his sight was damaged and he was nervous of returning to work following the assault at Ballybeg Business Park in 2012.

Father of three, Thomas Delaney (27) with and address at Bay 5, Bilberry Halting Site, Waterford, was given a suspended two and a half year prison sentence for assaulting causing harm to Peter Griffin on condition that he paid €2,500 compensation to the injured party.

Describing the attack, Sergeant Finbarr O’Sullivan said Peter Griffin went to the assistance of a colleague who was threatened by three men at the Ballybeg Business Park.

Armed with a wheel brace he fought off the men and retreated towards a nearby taxi office. Finally he decided to make a run for it but realised he was not going to make it. The office door was locked and the three men overpowered him.

The taxi driver was punched and kicked and knocked to the ground. He managed to get into the office and raise the alarm and the Gardaí were called to the scene. He suffered multiple lacerations to his head and face and was detained in hospital overnight.

In a victim impact report the injured man said his permanent sight had been damaged and he now had to wear glasses. He would love to go back to work but he was nervous and his loss of earnings amounted to €90,000.

The court heard that Thomas Delaney had previous convictions for road traffic matters and public order offences but none for assault or violent behaviour.

Barrister Richard Downey, defending, said his client was regarded as the “peacemaker” in his family.
In order to pay compensation to the injured party he had borrowed the sum of €2,500. On the night of the incident he had been drinking in pubs in the city. His brother John was sentenced to four months in prison for common assault and the other brother Michael got a suspended five month sentence.

The defendant was a trained farrier by trade but had been idle for a long period. He passed his skills on to younger Travellers by taking part in community projects. Since this incident he had not been convicted of any offence and had apologised to his victim.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the appropriate sentence was three and a half years in prison but due to mitigating factors it should be reduced by one year.

In recognition of the fact that there were no convictions against the defendant since 2012 the court was willing to suspend the entire sentence for three years on condition that he paid the compensation and kept the peace and was of good behaviour.