Three taxi drivers have lost their High Court case over deregulation. They had claimed the move fifteen years ago left them saddled with massive debt.
In 2000 it became easier and cheaper to get a license to become a taxi driver, which was massively controversial at the time.
In 2013 three test cases came before the High Court. Lawyers for Vincent Malone, Thomas Kelly and Alphonsus Muldoon said some cabbies had paid between €80,000 and €100,000 euro for their plates. Some had even re-mortgaged their homes, but the value of their licenses were wiped overnight, with devastating consequences.
They argued the Transport Minister failed in his duty to them, but this morning that was dismissed by the judge. Over a thousand drivers had been waiting on today's outcome before deciding whether to sue.
