Bus Driver Banned From Driving After ‘Horrific’ Assault On Taxi Man

Photo © Clare FM

A judge yesterday banned a bus driver from driving for 12 months concerning his late night ‘horrific’ assault where he punched a taxi-man 10 to 15 times in the face and stomach.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan also stated that the “unprovoked” assault by Petrus Hoffman on taxi-man, Sean O’Connor was put into the serious category as Mr Hoffman was a professional driver at the time.

Judge Durcan imposed a €750 fine on Mr Hoffman and imposed the driving ban by way of ancillary order.

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The judge described the assault as ‘horrific’.

Solicitor for Mr Hoffman, Daragh Hassett said that his client has now lost his job on two occasions as a result of the assault on taxi-driver, Sean O’Connor (57) last November.

Mr Hoffman lost his bus driving job in the aftermath of the attack and he subsequently got another driving job with a different employer.

Mr Hassett said that his client lost his second job after the case was reported in the papers in September.

Mr Hassett said: “It was a good job that enabled the man to pay his mortgage but this case, because the national press thought that there were some saucy facts to it and reported the case, he has lost that job.”

“He has suffered and has now lost two jobs because of what he did for this moment where this man got into difficulty. It was more handbags than anything else.”

In sentencing Mr Hoffman, Judge Durcan took into account the man’s guilty plea.

Mr Hoffman has also paid €2,000 has been paid to the injured party.

Mr Hassett said that the victim says that he was parked properly. Mr Hassett said: “He wasn’t parked properly but that doesn’t allow Mr Hoffman to fly off the handle.”

In the case, Mr Hoffman of Huntsfield Avenue, Dooradoyle, Limerick was bringing home Irish rugby fans after a long day of supporting Ireland at the Ireland Australia rugby match last November.

Mr Hoffman got into the row with Mr O’Connor in the car-park of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis shortly after midnight on November 27th.

Insp Kieran Ruane told the court previously that Mr Hoffman alleged that the way Mr O’Connor’s taxi was parked resulted in his bus hitting a bollard and sustaining damage.

Inspector Ruane said that as passengers were disembarking, Mr Hoffman got out of the bus and started to verbally abuse Mr O’Connor over the way he was parked.

According to the inspector, one witness to the incident saw Mr Hoffman punch Mr O’Connor 10 to 15 times in the face and stomach.

Mr Hoffman pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr O’Connor.

In his victim impact statement, Mr O’Connor said that the assault “left me traumatised”

He said: “I was left bruised with a severe headache. I was unable to work on doctor’s advice for a week due to bruising, headache and stress. Subsequently, I am wary of strangers approaching me.”

Mr Hassett said that his client has no previous convictions.

Solicitor for Mr Hoffman, Daragh Hassett said that his client has now lost his job on two occasions as a result of the assault on Mr O’Connor on Novembe 27th last.

Mr Hoffman lost his bus driving job in the aftermath of the attack and he subsequently lost another job with a different employer on the back of reports in the papers.

In the case, Mr Hoffman of Huntsfield Avenue, Dooradoyle, Limerick was bringing home Irish rugby fans after a long day of supporting Ireland at the Ireland Australia rugby match.

Mr Hoffman got into the row with Mr O’Connor in the car-park of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis shortly after midnight.

Mr Hoffman alleged that the way Mr O’Connor’s taxi was parked resulted in his bus hitting a bollard and sustaining damage.

One witness to the incident saw Mr Hoffman punch Mr O’Connor 10 to 15 times in the face and stomach.

In sentencing, Judge Durcan took into account the man’s guilty plea and imposed a 750 euro fine and a 12 month driving ban.