Taxi driver loses licence after attacking burglar to 'protect his family'

A TAXI driver who attacked a burglar to "protect his family" has now lost his licence. Grandfather Kenny O'Loughlin gained a criminal record after hitting the thief, who took coats filled with mobile phones and wallets, from a Christmas party in west Hull last December. Now, after confirming to Hull City Council that he has a criminal record, the 51-year-old has lost his taxi licence and livelihood.

Mr O'Loughlin, who lives in Cottingham Road, north Hull, said: "In 20 years of taxiing I haven't had a complaint once and this record wasn't because I attacked a customer, or did anything while I was on duty.
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"On the late shifts on Friday and Saturdays you can get some customers who get quite loud and argumentative. "I've never once lashed out at them, so I don't have anger management issues. "What I did, I did to protect my family. "I regret hurting the lad but I don't regret my actions – anyone else would have done the same."

Mr O'Loughlin was given a suspended prison sentence at Doncaster Crown Court in July this year, after pleading guilty to a section 20 assault charge. The hearing heard how Mr O'Loughlin had punched thief Paul Coultas four or five times and dragged him to the kerb.

Coultas had taken items from a party in De Grey Street when he was spotted by one of the partygoers. After the assault, Coultas spent time in intensive care before being sentenced to 12 months in prison for handling stolen goods. Mr O'Loughlin's licence was taken by Hull City Council's licensing committee last week.

A spokesman said the authority could not comment on individual cases.

I wonder if there is something else we are not seeing.

The hearing heard how Mr O'Loughlin had punched thief Paul Coultas four or five times and dragged him to the kerb.

Skull if I had the FULL story I may well agree with you, but I (and you) am not privvy to it all.

If on appeal he gets his licence back I will be delighted and I wish that in that scenario the Councillors could be called to account.

But it aint the world we live in.

All anyone can do is try to improve the system.

It is wrong that Councils routinely come to decisions after hearings in camera.

Skull are you saying that nobody ever should lose their licence? I don't think so.

Unless you get the whole story, not necessarily just on one incident, you can't judge.

It is wrong that Councils routinely come to decisions after hearings in camera. It should be the exception not the rule that hearings are held behind closed doors. The deliberations should certainly be private, just as a jury in a court case.