Taxi row attacker 'deserves a chance'
A SOCIAL care worker who punched a man in the face following an early morning argument about queue jumping at a taxi rank has been given a suspended sentence.
Steven Canavan (38) had been waiting for about an hour at the city centre taxi rank when he hit the man.
Canavan, with an address at Abbeydale Rise, The Oaks, Lucan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Aston Quay on September 24, 2006.
Judge Patrick McCartan noted from reports handed into court that the victim, who suffered a broken nose, had undergone a number of MRI scans due to suspected brain damage and that he continued to have headaches.
Judge McCartan said the incidence of alcohol-fuelled attacks having tragic outcomes was all too frequent.
He said he believed people should be allowed one mistake in their life within reason and, taking into account Canavan's previous good character, he imposed a three-year suspended sentence.
Garda Det Sgt Brian Duffy told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that Canavan and the victim became involved in a verbal altercation at about 2.15am about allegations of skipping the queue.
A witness described Canavan telling the man to get to the back of the queue and the two men exchanged words.
She said Canavan spat in the man's face and hit him with one punch to the face. She said the victim fell and cracked his head on the pavement.
Shouting
The woman said Canavan was shouting at the victim to get up. She said Canavan pulled him up and left the man slumped up against a wall.
Det Garda Duffy said an ambulance crew in the area attended to the injured man and Canavan left the scene.
He said Canavan was identified as a suspect and when contacted by gardai he volunteered his assistance. Det Garda Duffy said Canavan, who has no previous convictions, was originally from Britain.
He agreed with Breffni Gordon, defending, that there was "annoyance" caused to Canavan and other people in the queue by the victim.
hnews@herald.ie
- Fiona Ferguson
