Limerick man 'deeply apologetic' for assaulting a taxi driver over a fare dispute

A MAN who assaulted a taxi driver over a fare dispute has appeared in Limerick District Court.

Kenneth Greany, 45, with an address at Aspen Gardens, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick, assaulted the driver while in the taxi at his own address on May 31, 2025.

Giving evidence, Sergeant Denis Waters said that Mr Greany held his hand to the driver’s neck “for a few seconds”, and hit the driver with an open hand. The court heard Mr Greany was intoxicated at the time of the assault.

Gardaí were alerted to the assault and conveyed Mr Greany to Henry Street garda station.

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The man made admissions at the station and said that his actions were uncalled for.

Solicitor Tom Kiely, defending Mr Greany, said that the man is “deeply apologetic and embarrassed” over the incident, and that he “wished to apologise to the taxi driver”.

The 45-year-old came to court with €500 of compensation for the victim.

Contact had previously been made with the taxi driver, who declined to meet Mr Greany.

The solicitor said that a “build up of stress” contributed to the assault, and that Mr Greany has no previous convictions, bar a road traffic violation. Mr Kiely handed documents to Judge Patricia Harney to give insight into the man’s stress.

Upon viewing the material, the judge said: “I see who he is”. The judge said “conviction would affect his employment”, and decided to “let the probation service look at restorative justice” for Mr Greany.

The probation officer commented that there is a substantial waiting list for the relatively new restorative justice programme - which was introduced in 2019 as part of a new cross European venture.

Judge Harney proceeded to adjourn the case to a date in May.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme