Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 11227Refusing to carry a passenger with a guide dog (Taxi Regulation Act) · Co. Dublin · 27 Dec 2024

Two Dublin taxi drivers fined for refusing guide dog and blind couple

On 27 December 2024 two Dublin taxi drivers refused to carry a blind and visually impaired couple and their guide dog, after the couple arrived at Heuston Station from Cork. The drivers, Abiodun Dongo, 58, and Vadim Kolessov, 53, did not pay €250 fixed penalty notices, so the National Transport Authority took the case to Dublin District Court. Both men pleaded guilty under the Taxi Regulation Act, and in February 2026 Judge Anthony Halpin fined Dongo €1,000 and Kolessov €750, with €750 prosecution costs each. Kolessov has since been granted an exemption from carrying guide dogs on medical grounds.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two Dublin taxi drivers refused to carry a blind and visually impaired couple and their guide dog.
When
  • The incident took place on 27 December 2024, when the couple arrived at Heuston Station from Cork.
  • The sentencing report is dated 1 February 2026 in the article header and 9 February 2026 in the article text.
Where
The case concerns taxi drivers in County Dublin.
Other details
  • Anthony Clark is named as the victim in the case details.
  • The two drivers are Abiodun Dongo, a man aged 58, and Vadim Kolessov, a man aged 53.
  • The judge described both drivers’ attitudes toward the two vulnerable people as “disappointing and wholly unacceptable”.
  • Kolessov has since been granted an exemption from carrying guide dogs on medical grounds.
Cause
  • Dongo refused the couple and the dog, saying he was allergic to dogs.
  • Kolessov refused the couple, citing similar reasons.
Investigation
An Iarnród Éireann official recorded the registration plate numbers of both cars.
Charges
Both drivers pleaded guilty to refusing to carry a passenger with a guide dog under the Taxi Regulation Act.
In court
After neither driver paid the €250 fixed penalty notice, the National Transport Authority prosecuted the case at Dublin District Court.
Sentence
Judge Anthony Halpin fined Dongo €1,000 and Kolessov €750, and ordered each to pay €750 in prosecution costs.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo Dublin taxi drivers were convicted and fined for refusing to carry a blind and visually impaired couple with a guide dog. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe couple arrived at Heuston Station from Cork on 27 December 2024. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeDongo refused the couple and the dog, saying he was allergic to dogs. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeKolessov refused the couple, citing similar reasons. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationAn Iarnród Éireann official recorded the registration plate numbers of both cars. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe drivers pleaded guilty to charges under the Taxi Regulation Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe National Transport Authority prosecuted the case at Dublin District Court after the drivers did not pay fixed penalty notices. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtNeither driver paid the €250 fixed penalty notice fines, so the NTA escalated the case to court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Anthony Halpin fined Dongo €1,000 and Kolessov €750, and ordered each to pay €750 in prosecution costs. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the drivers' attitude toward the two vulnerable people as disappointing and wholly unacceptable. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherKolessov has since been granted an exemption from carrying a guide dog on medical grounds. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Feb2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Two Dublin taxi drivers fined for refusing to take visually impaired couple and their guide dog

    Reports the guilty pleas, fines of €1,000 and €750 with €750 costs each, and the judge's comments; the article adds no prior case in this list.

    convicted, Abiodun Dongo, 58, male, namedAbiodun Dongoconvicted, Vadim Kolessov, 53, male, namedVadim Kolessovvictim, Anthony Clark, male, irish (judged from name)Anthony Clark