Pictured | 

Self-styled ‘Mother Teresa’ taxi-driver groped vulnerable young woman

‘Good Samaritan’ who offered lifts to locals for just the cost of diesel was operating an unlicensed cab when he put his hand down woman’s trousers

Yesterday at 12:20

This is the self-styled ‘Mother Teresa’ taxi driver who sexually assaulted a 22-year-old female passenger in his car after pulling in on the side of the road.

We approached 68-year-old John Parkinson at his home in Trumera, Mountrath, in Co. Laois, on Tuesday to ask him about the horrific attack he perpetrated on the ‘vulnerable’ woman.

But the unlicensed taxi driver declined to answer our questions after our reporter identified himself.

“I’ve no comment to make on anything,” he said, before stepping inside and then closing his door.

Appearing before Portlaoise District Court last week, Parkinson pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the 22-year-old woman on March 23 of last year.

Prosecuting Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told the court that at the time of the offence the defendant was operating an unlicensed taxi.

He said that the pensioner had picked up the young woman who had asked to be taken to a specific address.

However, during the journey the defendant pulled over and sexually assaulted her.

Recapping a portion of the victim’s statement to gardaí, Sgt Kirby said that the woman had told investigators: “He put his hand down below where I p**s from.”

The court heard how during the assault she had asked Parkinson what he was doing but that he didn’t respond.

Sgt Kirby said that the woman told gardaí: “I told him to stop but he didn’t.”

The court also heard how during the assault Parkinson had put his hand on her chest.

“This lady felt uncomfortable when this was happening,” Sgt Kirby told the court.

“This lady would be a vulnerable young woman,” he stated.

Judge Andrew Cody heard that prior to last week’s court appearance, Parkinson had no previous convictions.

Judge Cody recalled, however, that the defendant had appeared before the court previously for operating an unlicensed taxi service.

“He told me that he was a bit like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, providing a service,” Judge Cody recalled.

Addressing the court on Parkinson’s behalf, solicitor Philip Meagher said the pensioner lived alone and was on a contributory pension.

He said that Parkinson was known in the community as someone who would give people a lift for the price of the diesel used on the journey.

Addressing the issue of motivation behind the attack, he said that Parkinson was unable to explain why he did it.

Mr Meagher said “some kind of urge came over him” and he committed the offence, which he estimated lasted for 20 seconds.

He said that Parkinson had apologised to the woman in the days after the assault.

“When he saw her in the street he actually pulled up the car and apologised,” Mr Meagher said.

“He is beyond sorry. He is beyond ashamed for what happened,” he said.

Mr Meagher said his client had written a short letter of apology to the victim and had brought €1,000 to court.

He said that his client acknowledges that the sum does not represent adequate compensation.

Judge Andrew Cody said he would require a victim impact statement in the case.

Although the case was heard in-camera, Judge Cody said the reporting restrictions would only apply to the victim in the case, meaning nothing can be reported that might identify her.

Judge Cody described the incident as “a complete breach of trust”. He adjourned the case to November 23 for a victim impact statement.