Rapist cabbie Raymond Shorten was allowed to continue driving a taxi to prey on women because previous convictions for sexual offences were not “serious” enough, we can reveal.
Vile predator Shorten, 50, will be sentenced later this month after he was found guilty of raping two young women in June and August 2022.
Shorten, from Melrose Crescent, Clondalkin in Dublin, preyed on young women who were vulnerable because they were intoxicated after a night out.
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On Monday, the Central Criminal Court heard he had been convicted of other serious sexual offences – the details of which cannot be reported to protect the identity of the victim.
It raised questions as to why Shorten had not been disqualified from holding a Small Public Service Vehicle Licence, which requires garda vetting. A source told us Shorten’s previous convictions did not meet the criteria under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 that warrant revoking an SPSV licence.
An Garda Siochana stated: “The Taxi Regulation Act 2013, as amended, provides that a person convicted of an offence listed in Schedule 1 is disqualified from holding a PSV licence either for life or a specified period.
“This does not apply in this specific case. Upon the commencement of these criminal investigations in 2022, which were recently concluded before the courts, the SPSV driver's licence was revoked.”
Rachel Morrogh, chief executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, said the apparent glitch in the system raised serious questions.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It is extremely alarming that Raymond Shorten had a previous conviction for a sexual offence and was still driving his taxi, picking up fares from people who mistakenly thought his taxi was the safest way home.
“Although we do not know what sexual offence he was found guilty of previously, it was reported in court that it was a ‘serious’ sexual offence.
“There are serious and urgent questions that need to be answered by the taxi regulator because the law states that certain convictions, including sexual offences, result in mandatory disqualification for holding small public service vehicle driver licences.
“If for any reason this is not happening routinely, then the public should be told why and the Government must put measures in place to remedy this with immediate effect.”
Vile Shorten, who formerly worked as a milkman, denied the charges and claimed both women, who were aged 19 and 20 at the time, had initiated sex and it was consensual.
Prosecuting counsel Geraldine Small told the Central Criminal Court the offences merited sentences of 10-15 years in prison.
She said Shorten preyed on his victims, and in the case of the first young woman it was clear he had targeted her as she had not hailed a cab.
There were 70 instances of rape or sexual assault in taxis reported from 2017 to 2023, according to official figures. The Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation has called for CCTV in vehicles to protect both drivers and passengers.
Ms Morrogh said: “All of us, but particularly young women and their parents, have an expectation that taxis are a safe space to be.
“In the vast majority of circumstances, this is the case. However, Raymond Shorten abused the trust placed in him and used his place of employment, a public service vehicle, to prey on women who were extremely vulnerable.
“Raymond Shorten effectively changed the use of his taxi from a trusted mode of transport to a predator’s den, using it to isolate and attack his passengers.”
Earlier this week, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns raised the case in the Dail describing it as “every woman’s worst nightmare”.
She said: “The Government must move to assure the public that the taxi regulator has sufficient powers to identify and disqualify taxi drivers who are convicted of serious sexual offences.
“A convicted sexual offender operating as a taxi driver is every woman’s worst nightmare. Women who use taxis at night do so not just to get home – but to get home safely.
“However, women who got into Shorten’s taxi were exposed to a serial sexual predator. Two of them were brutally attacked and raped as a result. This case raises major questions for the regulator, the National Transport Authority.
“Most importantly, why did Shorten, who was convicted of sexual offences, have a taxi licence?”
The National Transport Authority said there are two licences involved in operating a taxi – a vehicle licence from the NTA and an SPSV driver licence issued by An Garda Siochana.
In a statement, it added: “An Garda Siochana carry out vetting and assessment of the suitability of the driver applicants. Under the relevant regulations, SPSV driver licences are granted by An Garda Siochana only to people who, amongst other requirements, are confirmed by An Garda Siochana to be suitable persons to hold SPSV driver licences.
“Section 30 of The Taxi Regulation Act 2013 sets out the convictions that result in mandatory disqualification from holding an SPSV driver licence.
“It also provides that the applicant for an SPSV licence or the holder of such a licence is obliged to notify the licensing authority in this case An Garda Siochana of the conviction at the time of application or within one month of the conviction as applicable. Failure to notify is an offence liable for prosecution.
“The gardai have powers under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 to revoke SPSV driver licences where it considers it appropriate to do so.”
In her victim impact statement, the first victim said it was shocking that Shorten did not just target her, but had raped another woman.
The second woman said she lived in constant fear. Shorten spoke with a thick Dublin accent, and the woman said she was now triggered by men with similar ways of speaking. Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he would sentence Shorten, a father-of-seven, on July 22.
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