Joe Egerton was a young tearaway who, along with a friend, stole Don Brennan's taxi from outside a betting shop on Belmont Road in 1990. Don had gone into the bookies to place a bet and had left the cab's engine running, leaving the establishment in time to see the boys setting off in it. Soon after starting their joyride, Joe and his friend hit a cyclist and left the car abandoned. A few days later, Joe was brought in for further questioning about the cab theft. He and a friend pinned the blame on each other, and ultimately Joe confessed.