THREE taxi drivers in West Dunbartonshire had their licences granted by councillors, despite all three having serious criminal convictions.

The council’s licensing committee met last Thursday where all three drivers were ordered to appear personally before the committee to speak in favour of their licences being granted to drive either a taxi or private hire car.

Sergeant Marie Capaldi, representing the chief constable of Police Scotland at the meeting, objected to the granting of a taxi licence to Ryan Martin, of Dunswin Court, Dalmuir, Clydebank.

In 2010 Mr Martin was convicted of assault to severe injury and he also has a previous conviction for driving without insurance.

“There was no excuse for what I did,” Mr Martin told the committee.
Committee chairman Councillor Jim Finn, despite the police objections, moved that Martin Wright be granted a licence and it was approved unanimously. 

The rest of the committee comprised council leader Jonathan McColl and councillors Brian Walker, Jim Brown, and Ian Dickson.

Police also objected to William Wright, of Cleddans View, Drumry, Clydebank. Cllr Brown declared an interest and left the room, taking no part in the application.

Mr Wright, who appeared along with lawyer Eugene Boyle, faced a letter from Police Scotland, highlighting previous prosecutions considered as spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders’ Act 1974.

Wright had previous convictions for speeding from 2016 and for cannabis cultivation from 2012, both of which were dealt with at Dumbarton Sheriff Court. He was also convicted of drink driving in 2009.

Mr Boyle explained: “His driving ban was reduced to nine months after he successfully took part in the rehabilitation programme. Not withstanding the previous convictions, he has otherwise been of good character.”

Cllr Finn moved to grant the application to Mr Wright which was seconded by Cllr Walker.

In a third licence request, Ser Capaldi said David Darroch, of Napier Crescent, Brucehill, Dumbarton, was “not a fit and proper person to hold a licence” with previous convictions, including assault, breach of the peace and, in July 2016, he was convicted at Dumbarton Sheriff Court of drink driving. His licence was also unanimously approved.