A Cork taxi-driver who told a young couple there would be no sex in the back of his taxi failed to have his licence restored yesterday. Cork District Court was told yesterday that the driver, Mr Bernard Daly, of Blackrock Road, Cork, had told the couple that he would prefer that they go to a hotel room or bedroom after the young man put his arm around the girl in the back seat. The court was told how she moved nearer to her boyfriend and it was then that the driver made his remarks.
"I told him I was no tramp," she said, and explained that on the journey to the north side of the city, the driver had to jam on his brakes and just missed striking the back of a car because "he was looking in the rear-view mirror all of the time".
She said that when he took a wrong turn they decided to get out of the car. She admitted they slammed the doors after her boyfriend asked what the fare was and Mr Daly replied: "Keep your f...ing money".
The girl said that after she went home, her mother rang the cab company to complain. She was told to report the matter to the Public Service Vehicles office.
In cross-examination, Mr Daly asked the girl if she had shrieked in the back of the car. Both she and her boyfriend denied this.
Sgt Liam Maloney said the couple had complained to him and he had brought the matter to the attention of Mr Daly. He did not take his PSV licence and badge away and decided to give him a chance on condition he refrain from confrontations and behave in a respectful manner to passengers.
However, following another complaint, Chief Supt Aidrian Culligan revoked the licence. Sgt Maloney explained that an appointment was made for Mr Daly to meet the chief superintendent. "The chief superintendent waited an hour, but Mr Daly never turned up."
Earlier the court was told of another incident involving Mr Daly who travelled as a passenger in a taxi driven by Mr Declan Kelleher and of a dispute he had with Mr Kelleher about the taxi-meter. Mr Kelleher said Mr Daly had asked for a copy of the taxi regulations and told him he was going to report him to the PSV office.
The judge said he accepted Mr Kelleher's evidence and was taking this into account. "I have no hesitation in striking out the appeal and refusing it. I hold you are in breach of the regulations," he told Mr Daly.