Woman Slashed At Taxi Driver With Stanley Knife
1st October 2008
A 21-year woman who attacked an Enniskillen taxi driver with a Stanley knife has been sentenced to a total of four months in prison when she appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court.
Louise Margaret Duddy, with an address at Festival Park in Omagh pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including possession of an offensive weapon, damaging a police vehicle and assaulting a police Constable.
The court heard that on 14th June this year, at around 11.25pm, police received a report that a taxi driver was being attacked at a filling station on the Dublin Road in Enniskillen.
Police arrived at the scene to find the defendant being restrained by a taxi driver in the front passenger seat of his taxi. She was sobbing and intoxicated.
The taxi driver told police he had picked up the defendant who asked how much a taxi would be to Omagh. He told her and then she asked to be taken to a cash machine. The defendant was then observed looking in her bag and her pockets before she produced a Stanley knife and made a slashing motion towards the taxi driver, slightly injuring his arm. The court was told that the taxi driver was visibly shaken by the incident.
When police arrested the defendant, she kicked the door of the police car they were trying to put her in - twice - and she had to remain in the police station for some time because she was in an intoxicated state. While there, she damaged a blanket in her cell. The next day the defendant said she couldn't remember anything of the night before.
Defending, Michael Fahy described this as an, 'unsavoury and disturbing incident', admitting it had all the hallmarks of a serious offence.
Mr Fahy said his client never intended to use the knife but felt it was appropriate for her to carry it for her own protection.
Mr Fahy said his client was extremely intoxicated at the time and that she only had a limited recollection of the events. He submitted she had a 'disjointed and chaotic upbringing' and, pointing to the probation report, he said was now engaging with agencies to address her alcohol and other issues.
Sentencing, Resident Magistrate Liam McNally said that upon reading the probation report and looking at the difficulties this defendant has faced, he had a degree of sympathy for her.
However, when he looked at the facts of this case he said this wasn't simply a case of possession of a knife: "You armed yourself with a knife and used it to slash at a taxi driver, causing him a cut to his arm.
He noted this was the defendant's 14th appearance before court, and, yet, she was only 21 years of age. He told her: "The court has bent over backwards to help you, trying everything but custody.
You have not taken advantage of these opportunities and you must realise this type of behaviour will not be tolerated."
For possession of the Stanley knife, the defendant was sentenced to a total of four months in prison, with all her sentences to run concurrently.
Following an application for bail for appeal, this was granted in the sum of £250.
Source; Fermanagh Herald
Login
Register
FAQ
