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File image of taxi signs in Dublin. Shutterstock
Courts

Mixed martial arts fighter punched taxi driver in row over fare, court hears

The assault occurred in the early hours of 16 December 2018.

A PROFESSIONAL MIXED martial arts fighter who repeatedly punched a taxi driver in a row over a fare will be discharged from the indictment if he meets the judge’s conditions, a court has heard.

Dylan Tuke (25) called the taxi driver a “sap” and a “fool” and told him “you’re not in your country now” before he punched him in the head and face, breaking the man’s front teeth.

The assault occurred in the early hours of 16 December 2018 after Tuke hurriedly jumped into the taxi without asking if he was available and told him to go to the city centre, Garda Elaine Duffy told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The taxi driver was uneasy by Tuke’s behaviour and asked him to pay the fare upfront, which led to the argument.

After Tuke assaulted the driver and got out of the cab, he briefly returned to the car, causing the driver to run into a nearby fast food restaurant. Tuke then left the scene in another cab.

Another taxi driver who witnessed the assault said it was “horrific” and that Tuke was “like a man possessed”, the court heard.

After dash cam images of Tuke were circulated among gardaí, he was identified by a garda who “recognised him from the media”, the court heard.

Tuke, with a former address at Edenmore Ave, Raheny, and who now resides in Bathgate, Scotland, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the driver at Main Street, Swords. He has no previous convictions.

At a sentencing hearing today, Judge Pauline Codd said the most significant aggravating factor was the threatening demeanour of Tuke and the threats he issued to the taxi driver.

Judge Codd said the offence was also aggravated by him pursuing the victim on foot and the victim being a taxi driver who was conducting a public service.

She said the court must take into consideration his co-operation, his age at the time, his remorse and the garda evidence that the offence was out of character.

She noted that while drinking alcohol was not a mitigating factor, it contributed to his acting out of character on the night concerned.

The judge said Tuke comes from a very difficult background and has had a very difficult upbringing.

She noted he has not come to adverse attention since the offence and that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had originally consented for summary disposal of the matter in the District Court.

Judge Codd said the appropriate sentence was 18 months imprisonment, but said she would defer the sentence until 4 April next, and impose a €200 fine.

She said that if Tuke does not come to adverse attention during the adjournment, she will deal with the matter under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. This section allows the court to discharge an accused person from the indictment.

Judge Codd also ordered that the €3,000 which Tuke had in court was to be handed over to the victim or to a charity of their choice.

Author
Isabel Hayes and Brion Hoban