A man serving 10 years for drugs and firearms offences has been jailed for three more years for his part in what has been described as a "full-blown riot".
Brian Rattigan (25), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was convicted earlier this year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing serious harm to Dermot Murphy, attempted seizure of his vehicle and violent disorder on James's Street on April 2nd, 2000.
Sgt Michael Hiney told prosecuting barrister Damian Colgan that a taxi stopped to pick up a couple at about 2am on that date. Two women and three men, including Rattigan, violently set upon the driver and the couple in the belief that the taxi had stopped for them. Other taxi drivers stopped to assist and became involved.
Sgt Hiney said Mr Murphy slowed his taxi as he approached the scene. Rattigan got into the back of the moving car, pulled Mr Murphy's head back by the hair, beat him and put him in a stranglehold until Mr Murphy applied the brakes and was able to escape.
Rattigan has five previous convictions and is serving six years for possessing drugs, with one year suspended, and a consecutive four years for possessing firearms.
Judge White called Rattigan a "very dangerous young man" and imposed concurrent three-year terms for each count, to take effect from the expiration of his current sentence. The judge said the court was concerned with the, "huge, unprovoked violence used", which "resembled a full-blown riot".