A decision by a Garda superintendent to revoke the licence of a taxi driver was appealed in an application at Navan District Court last Friday (16th Jan ’26) . There are reporting restrictions in the case and the driver cannot be named for legal reasons. He took the case against Superintendent Martina Noonan. The court was told that Superintendent Noonan had served notice on the appellant last year that she was revoking his public service vehicle licence.
It had come to her attention on a certain date that the appellant was subject to an investigation in regard to allegations made against him of sexual assault of two persons while in his vehicle. He had been arrested and questioned in relation to it. Legal proceedings were in train.
She said that there had been previous similar allegations some time ago. A file was prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions but there was no prosecution.
She believed that, as a duty of care, he had contravened his obligation as a licence holder and failed to ensure the safety and welfare of passengers. The superintendent agreed with Judge Eirinn McKiernan that at this point in time this was an allegation. A lawyer for the appellant said that her client was a long-serving taxi driver and his taxi licence had been renewed a number of times. He had denied allegations of sexual assault. The superintendent agreed with the lawyer that her client retained the presumption of innocence. The person
concerned had no previous convictions.
Judge McKiernan said she understood the superintendent had a certain job to do but she felt she should allow the appeal against the revocation of the licence.
