A TAXI DRIVER has described how he thought he was going to die after he was stabbed 49 times and left in a remote part of Co Limerick by two passengers who hijacked and later burned out his car.
Kieran Canty (52) recalled his ordeal after two teenagers were jailed for five years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in connection with the attack at Croagh, Co Limerick, on April 20th last year.
Noelle Waters (19), St Colmcille Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, who, the court was told, expressed no remorse when she was questioned, and Patrick Quilligan (19), O’Connor Park, Ardagh, Co Limerick, admitted carrying out the violent attack which also left their victim with a broken wrist and three broken teeth.
They pleaded guilty to a number of charges including assault causing harm, unlawful seizure, production of knives, arson and theft.
In an interview on Limerick’s Live 95FM radio station yesterday, Mr Canty recalled how he thought he was going to die during his terrifying ordeal.
“I thought I was going to be killed I was threatened, a knife was put to my forehead and they told me that I would be killed,” he said.
“Hopefully nobody will ever, especially in the taxi business, have to go through the trauma that I went through in the last 15 months,” he continued.
Limerick Circuit Court was told that Mr Canty was stabbed 20 times in the head and 29 times elsewhere when he refused to hand over his car keys after driving his passengers from Limerick city to a secluded driveway in Croagh.
After the attack, they took his mobile and drove off in his car. He eventually raised the alarm at a nearby house.
“Thankfully the reaction to the gardaí in these situations is very good and very swift. Unfortunately in my case, I was taken to a secluded area, so the reaction was quite slow.
“I could not under the circumstances explain where I was as they stole my phone as well and left me there so it took one hour and 20 minutes to get aid on the night,” Mr Canty recalled.
He had tried to drive a taxi since his ordeal but admitted he was finding it difficult and was considering a career change.
“I’ve tried to be honest on a number of occasions but it’s difficult, maybe if I go to day work possibly, but then again it’s the financial situation and trying to earn the money again,” he said. “I am presently looking for an alternative career to see if I can branch out in other circles, if not then I stuck in the taxi business.
“I’m 52 years of age and it’s not easy changing careers. However, God loves a trier and if there’s something out there that we can do we’ll try it anyway,” he continued.
Before imposing the five-year jail sentence, Judge Carroll Moran said the facts of the case were “as bad” as he had ever seen.