Courts / Dublin / Report

Taxi hijacker awaiting baby in April, court hears

Date
2024-10-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A pregnant woman, Hijacker Gillian Byrne (38), is to be sentenced later this month for her role in hijacking a taxi and assaulting the driver in the Phoenix Park on July 26, 2023. Byrne pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm. A co-accused woman is to be sentenced next week for the same offences and the additional charge of falsely imprisoning the taxi-driver. Byrne has 12 previous convictions, including a four-year-suspended sentence for a prior vehicle seizure. Counsel said Byrne had requested to be sentenced separately to her co-accused in this case and that she had allegedly been assaulted by associates of the other woman close to the court. The court heard that Byrne rang 999 immediately after the incident to inform gardaí about the offence and her role in it. A prosecuting garda agreed with Mark Lynam SC, defending, that Byrne had a 'passive role' in the hijacking and the assault and had not known they were about to happen. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on October 24.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Taxi hijacker awaiting baby in April, court hears. Charges or matters: the unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm on July 26, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 26, 2023 Incident
October 24 Adjournment
Tuesday, October 15 Adjournment
2024-10-10 Publication

Case subjects

Hijacker Gillian Byrne

Convicted Person

Charges: the unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm on July 26, 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: A co-accused woman is to be sentenced next week for the same offences and the additional charge of falsely imprisoning the taxi-driver. Counsel said Byrne had requested to be sentenced separately to her co-accused in this case and that she had allegedly been assaulted by associates of the other woman close to the court.; Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation on October 24.