A taxi passenger punched and racially abused the driver, telling him to “go back to Africa” in a “disturbing” attack after a fare dispute incident in Dublin, Northern Ireland, last March.
John Sharpe. 49. had got drunk on Mother’s Day, 10 years after the death of his mother, whom he had been close to, his defence said.
Dublin District Court heard that a garda was alerted to an argument between Sharpe and the taxi driver at around 1.40am. Sharpe, who was sitting in the back of the cab, was visibly drunk and arguing over the fare.
Although he claimed he had enough money to pay, he refused to hand it over. The fare totalled €20.
The court heard Sharpe launched a racist tirade at the driver, using a racial slur and telling him to “go back to Africa”. During the confrontation, he also punched the driver and grabbed his jacket, leaving the victim shaken.
Judge Michael Ramsey described the incident as “disturbing” and criticised Sharpe’s behaviour.
“The way to remember your mother is certainly not to behave in this manner,” the judge said.
Defence counsel said Sharpe had been drinking heavily on Mother’s Day, a date that carried emotional significance because it marked 10 years since the death of his mother. The court heard they had been very close and that Sharpe had little memory of the incident.
His lawyer added that Sharpe, a father of two who works as a nightclub bouncer, had stopped drinking since the attack and was taking medication to help him stay sober.
Sharpe arrived in court with €500 to offer the driver as compensation and asked the judge to avoid recording convictions against him.
Judge Ramsey rejected the request, pointing to Sharpe’s previous convictions, which include public order offences.
The case was adjourned until July. The judge indicated he would impose a one month prison sentence, suspended for a year, if the €500 compensation is paid to the victim.
