An Enniskillen man who damaged the windscreen of a taxi after getting a lift from Omagh to Enniskillen has been handed several fines for his actions.
At around 5.35am on November 6, 2022, police received a report that a man had refused to pay a £50 taxi fare and had smashed the windscreen of the taxi.
Police arrived and observed the damage, and the reporting party told them Niall Patrick Johnston (27), of Windmill Heights, Enniskillen, had gone into a nearby property.
Johnston was escorted out and told police he was willing to pay the fare, but he had no money on him, Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday.
He was arrested and cautioned, and told police he did not remember what happened, but that he would pay for the fare and damage.
Michael Fahy, representing Johnston, told the court his client had paid for the damage and the taxi fare while he also wrote a letter of apology which he handed to the taxi company.
He said this incident was "alcohol-fuelled" as Johnston had been out in Omagh and got a local taxi to bring him to Enniskillen.
Continuing, he said Johnston had even given his wallet and phone as security that he would "make good" on the fare when he got to Enniskillen.
However, Mr. Fahy said the interventions of Johnston's friends created issues with the taxi driver, and an attempted swing was made at the taxi driver, but there was no contact.
Mr. Fahy said Johnston realised the severity and unsavoury nature of his actions and this made him go to Omagh to make good for his "inappropriate and unnecessary behaviour".
He added that Johnston did all he could to rectify the matter, the court heard.
District Judge Alana McSorley told Johnston this was an assault on an employee providing a service to him; however, she also took into account his attempts to make reparations.
Johnston was convicted of criminal damage, making off without paying, and common assault, which saw him fined a total of £300.
He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the taxi driver.
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