A DUBLIN man who hijacked a taxi and reversed it down the Naas Road before driving through the front door of a nightclub has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Frank O’Donnell.
Michael Hanlon (26), of Kilmahuddrick Road, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seizing control of a vehicle and to reckless endangerment at Naas Road on August 3rd, 2006.
Garda Joseph Carroll told Cathleen Noctor, prosecuting, that Hanlon hijacked the taxi after he and a friend were asked to leave Club Diva at the Red Cow Moran Hotel following an incident inside.
Garda Carroll said that as Hanlon and his friend left the club they exchanged words with the doormen before walking out to the main road and hailing a taxi.
He said that Hanlon got into the back seat of the taxi and instructed the driver to “go up the road”. When the car started moving he grabbed the driver round the throat and shouted “I’ll stab you”.
Garda Carroll said that the driver stopped the car after being ordered to “get out”, at which point Hanlon got into the driver’s seat and reversed the car back towards the hotel.
He said the doormen saw the car turn around and drive towards them at speed. They ran inside the building before Hanlon crashed the car through the doorway.
Judge O’Donnell suspended the last two years of the sentence on the condition that Hanlon keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years on his release. He also disqualified him from driving for five years. He noted the incident “must have had a terrible effect” on the taxi driver.