THE trial of a Limerick taxi driver accused of threatening to kill a taxi regulator has opened at Limerick Circuit Court. Christopher (Christy) O’Carroll, of The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, has denied threatening to kill Patrick Doyle at East Link Business Park, Ballysimon in April 2013.
Prosecution counsel John O’Sullivan BL said the case concerns events that unfolded when Mr O’Carroll was at a premises in the Business Park to have his taxi meter and car tested and verified.
It is alleged that he made a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Doyle causing him to believe that the threat could be carried out.
In his opening remarks to the trial, Mr O’Sullivan outlined the State’s case where it is alleged that Christy Carroll, aged in his 50s, brought his vehicle to the SGS Ireland, who were contracted to National transport Authority for taxi testing.
Patrick Doyle said that after the meter verification test on his 2003 registered taxi, he told Mr Carroll of certain matters that needed to be tended with his vehicle and these were met with serious aggression. Aggression that went as far to make a threat or cause serious harm.
Mr Doyle said that he was told by Carroll, “I will bite your fucking nose off” and towards the end of the exchange, Carroll is alleged to have said “I will be back with a balaclava and shoot your fucking head off”.
The trial heard that Mr Doyle left work and observed a vehicle driven near his workplace at a slow speed by Christy Carroll.
Mr O’Sullivan said that Christy Carroll wrote a letter of apology to gardai for any words used, but the State say that this is not a full admission of the words used and does not absolve Mr Carroll of criminal liability.
The trial is expected to last until Friday before Judge John Hannan.
