Taxi driver told he was a ‘dead man’

A taxi driver told Roscommon District Court he had to run for his life after being assaulted.

A 42-year-old man was convicted of the assault and of criminal damage to the taxi at a special sitting of the court last week. After hearing the evidence, Judge Vincent Deane imposed a two month prison sentence on Stephen Sturrock, of no fixed abode in Ireland but from Bristol, England, for the assault back dating it to when the accused went into custody on remand on July 4th, 2026. The offence happened on a country road at Ballytoohey, Tarmonbarry.

Mr Sturrock was not legally represented and was asked if he wished to seek the advice of a solicitor by Judge Deane. Mr Sturrock did not speak or engage in the proceedings during the hearing. The judge was told that the accused never engaged with gardaí or legal services. The state’s case was led by Garda Inspector Damien Hunt.

Giving evidence, the taxi driver said that he was driving to Drumlish, when he got an Uber message for a fare from Roosky to Tarmonbarry. He picked up the accused and they proceeded along a country road.

During this journey, he heard the accused saying “you f**king c**t, today you are f**king dead”, and he believed initially that Mr Sturrock was talking to himself. Then the accused came closer and said “Did you hear what I said? You are a dead man today”.

He became aggressive and grabbed the taxi driver from behind, grabbing his neck. The court heard that he slowed down and defended himself with one hand while driving. He was able to stop the car, take the keys, and run.

“I had to run for my life,” he told the judge, adding that the accused had a small plastic bag which he thought might have a weapon in it.

He said he was shaking and scared and flagged down a passing car. The accused was rushing towards them, saying “I said I will f**king kill you, you f**king c**t”. The taxi driver said he jumped into the car and they drove away.

When they returned to the scene shortly afterwards to retrieve the taxi, the accused was still waiting at the taxi. The gardaí were then called.

The taxi driver told the court that the car, which he was renting from another man, had been badly damaged and that the accused had sent him a threatening message as well.

He also identified the accused in court as the man who carried out the assault.

The accused was given the opportunity to cross exam the witness but made no response.

Giving evidence, Garda Alan Miles from Boyle Garda Station told the court that when they arrived on the scene, the accused was very volatile and angry and had to be handcuffed as gardaí were concerned he would lash out.

Garda Miles said that the accused was highly intoxicated and was deemed unfit by a doctor to be interviewed until the following morning.

“He never spoke during the whole interview,” he said. The taxi’s windscreen had been smashed, its headlight broken, and its front and back passenger doors heavily dented. The roof was also heavily dented and the front bumper damaged. The damage would cost a total of €3,421.70 to fix, the court heard. The windscreen was dealt with by the insurance company.

The accused, who has no previous convictions and was visiting Ireland from the UK, was again asked if he wished to give any evidence but did not reply, and the judge said he was satisfied the state had proven its case.

He handed down a backdated prison sentence, and the accused was released from custody.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme