Elderly Limerick man handed prison sentence after failing to pay taxi fare

An ELDERLY  County Limerick man has been handed a prison sentence after he failed to pay a €125 taxi fare.

John Roche, aged 71, of The Mall, Glin, pleaded guilty to the theft offence when he appeared before Newcastle West District Court.

Garda Inspector Gearóid Thompson told the court that on August 30, 2024, Mr Roche travelled by bus from Dublin to Arthurs Quay in Limerick city.

Having arrived in Limerick, the accused then got a taxi from Arthurs Quay to his home village of Glin.

Upon arrival there, he failed to pay the taxi fare, which, Insp Thompson said, totalled €125.

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Solicitor Michael O’Donnell, representing the accused, told the court his client had given the taxi driver his phone as “part payment” for the fare.

Mr O’Donnell highlighted his client’s elderly status and his poor health over the past few months.

Mr Roche, he added, has been in custody since October 13, after he was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for an unrelated criminal damage offence.

Mr Roche has 65 previous convictions, including 29 for Section 4 theft offences.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican imposed a one month prison sentence - to be served concurrently to the sentence Mr Roche is currently serving.