THE SENTENCING of a Limerick taxi driver for the rape of a passenger has been adjourned for three weeks.
John Ryan (43), Clonard, Westbury, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court last November.
He had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault of the woman on October 17th, 2007 after picking her up in his cab a short distance from a Limerick nightclub.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned sentencing after Ryan raised issues about the medical care of his amputated leg while he has been in custody since his conviction.
Ryan left the meter running during the incident and gardaí were able to track him down using the receipt the woman grabbed before leaving the car.
Ryan drove his 21-year-old victim to a “quiet place” 20 minutes from where he picked her up. He told her to take off her clothes before he removed his and raped her.
The woman tried to take a photo of him on her phone but he snatched it off her before she could. He then returned it and drove her to her apartment.
Before she got out she noticed the fare on the cab’s meter had gone up to about €40 but Ryan did not ask for money.
She grabbed the receipt before getting out and texted her friend about the rape.
During the seven-day trial, the court heard Ryan had claimed the woman initiated sex by rubbing his groin during the journey.
He had told gardaí the girl became angry at him after the incident when she saw his wedding ring.
Ryan also commented to gardaí: “The sickening thing is I was nice to her.”