Jailed for a serious assault on a taxi driver which left the victim bleeding profusely

By Eimear Dodd

Emergency services declared a ‘code red’ after a taxi driver was left bleeding profusely on the side of a road following a serious assault by two men eight years ago, a court has been told.

Ryan Cannon (29) was handed a four-year sentence today for his role in the assault.

Imposing sentence, Judge Pauline Codd said the victim sustained extensive injuries, and it is “lucky [Cannon] is not facing more serious charges” in relation to the incident on September 10, 2016.

Cannon of Pinewood Green Hill, Balbriggan, Fingal, Co. Dublin pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle on the second day of his trial in April.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that Cannon’s co-accused is not before the courts as he passed away in 2017.

The court heard that the victim was working and had parked outside McDonald’s in Airside Retail Park at 2.50 am on the night as there was a queue of taxis outside the Wright Venue.

A man got into the front passenger seat of the taxi and shouted to another person, later identified as Cannon, to “come on.”

Cannon got in, and the taxi driver asked the two men where they wanted to go.

The co-accused said, “Just drive,” with Cannon saying to head towards Drogheda.

The victim started to drive, and the co-accused handed him a €50 note.

He drove in the direction of the Pavilions Shopping Centre but got a bad feeling.

He pulled in and handed back the €50 note.

The victim expected the two men to get out of the taxi, but the co-accused started to hit him in the face.

Cannon was sitting in the back seat and put a knife to the victim’s neck, telling him to drive.

The victim drove in the direction of the shopping centre while the co-accused continued to hit him.

The victim was in fear for his life and managed to stop at a roundabout before the shopping centre.

Cannon then asked for the keys to the taxi.

While Cannon and the co-accused were getting out, the victim managed to escape, running down the road with the taxi’s keys.

Both men followed him and continued the attack.

The co-accused hit the taxi driver in the head again.

The taxi driver handed them the keys.

Cannon stabbed him around seven times.

There were no people or cars passing on the road at the time of the attack.

Cannon and his co-accused got into the taxi with Cannon driving the vehicle away.

The taxi was later found burnt out in the Balbriggan area.

A phone worth €500 and €150 cash were in the taxi, but were not recovered.

The victim had another phone with him and was able to raise the alarm.

When gardai arrived on the scene, he was bleeding profusely from his wounds.

Garda Sergeant Warren O’Sullivan told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting that emergency services considered his injuries to be potentially so serious that they declared a ‘code red’ and he was taken to Beaumont  Hospital.

He sustained bruising to his face and cuts to his torso, abdomen and shoulder.

Both men were identified from CCTV.

Cannon absconded to the United Kingdom but was arrested by arrangement.

When he was interviewed, nothing of evidential value was obtained.

He has 25 previous convictions and has been in custody since last October, during which time he served a seven-month sentence on a separate charge.

Mr Cooney read a victim impact statement to the court on behalf of the taxi driver.

He said he was left shaken following this incident and no longer picks up passengers from the side of the road.

The victim said his wife was also shaken following the attack and wanted him to change his job.

He said his wife gave birth shortly after this and described it as a “tough time” for his family.

There was €150 cash in the car and a phone worth €500, which were lost.

He was out of work for six weeks, which cost around €6,000 in lost wages.

His car insurance costs also increased substantially in the wake of this incident.

The taxi driver said this incident took place a long time ago, and he was “ready to forgive” Cannon.

Sgt O’Sullivan agreed with defence counsel that Cannon was 20 at the time and the co-accused was older than him.

It was further accepted that Cannon absconded to the UK but made arrangements to meet gardai by appointment and was cooperative.

Sgt O’Sullivan also agreed that most of Cannon’s previous convictions were in the District Court and were for drugs and public order offences.

Counsel told the court her client is now clean, and his AA and NA sponsor was in court to support him, along with his partner and family members.

An offer of €4,000 as compensation had been accepted by the victim.

Cannon left school after his Junior Certificate and started an apprenticeship, but didn’t finish it due to his drug use.

He became involved with an older crowd and started to use drugs and alcohol.

Cannon has a good work history and wishes to finish his apprenticeship.

An offer of work, a letter of apology and other documents were handed to the court.

Defence counsel said her client was “naive and foolish” to travel to the UK but noted that he returned voluntarily.

He has three young children, and his time in custody has had an effect on his partner and wider family.

He is on an enhanced prisoner regime while in custody and has completed a number of courses.

Counsel asked the court to give Cannon’s guilty plea as much weight as possible, noting that it came before the victim was cross-examined.

She asked the court to consider suspending part of any sentence imposed.

Judge Codd said the victim was left “injured on the road” and in fear while doing his job.

She also noted that his taxi was burnt out, and his insurance costs increased following this attack.

Judge Codd said the victim was “incredibly forgiving”, “humane”, and generous in his decision to forgive Cannon.

However, she said that the “seriousness of his actions” is not “minimised by reason of the generosity” of the victim.

She said the use of the knife is an aggravating factor, noting that Cannon had absconded and “did not face up to the consequences” of his actions at an early stage.

She noted the co-accused was older and accepted the defence’s submission that he was not a good role model for Cannon.

She said she took into account the mitigating factors, including Cannon’s family support, his expressions of remorse and efforts to rehabilitate.

Judge Codd handed him a four-year prison sentence. She declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting that while his time in custody would also impact on his family, “at the same time, these are very serious offences”.