A hairdresser who told a taxi driver “I don’t like blacks” and damaged his cab by running on to the bonnet has been spared jail. Matthew Feeney (28) hurled abuse and damaged the taxi in a violent, drink-fuelled episode during one of his first nights out after lockdown. Judge Marie Quirke said Feeney’s behaviour had been “reprehensible” but spared him a criminal record after he paid €600 in compensation and wrote a letter of apology to the taxi driver. The court heard the taxi driver called in to Rathmines Garda station at 12.20am on June 4 this year. He eventually paid the fare but as the taxi driver left, Feeney became abusive and said: “I don’t like blacks, you are all pigs.”He ran on to the bonnet and windscreen of the taxi, causing damage, and was arrested.

Source: Irish Independent August 09, 2021 01:30 UTC