A married couple have appeared in court after fighting with another couple over a taxi.

Padraig Eoin O’Sullivan, aged 35, and Jenna O’Sullivan, aged 41, both of Spring Valley Road, Douglas, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault each.

Mr O’Sullivan has denied two other offences of threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer and a trial will be held in summary court - so not in respect of those other allegations.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that the two complainants in the case, a man and a woman, got into a taxi in Victoria Street in Douglas on July 5.

However, the man then got out again to go to a nearby cash machine.

While he was there the O’Sullivans tried to get into the taxi, only to be told it was taken.

Padraig O’Sullivan then told the man, who had returned: ’No it’s not, we’re taking it. We’ll drag you out of it.’

Jenna O’Sullivan was then said to have struck the woman and both O’Sullivans were said to have started swinging punches at the other couple for over a minute.

The taxi was unable to leave as the door was being held open.

Police arrived while the fracas was still going on and the O’Sullivans were manhandled out of the taxi.

It is alleged that a woman passer-by witnessed the incident which is the source of the threatening behaviour accusation.

Advocate Ian Kermode, defending Padraig O’Sullivan, entered a basis of plea on behalf of his client in which O’Sullivan said that he and his wife had been celebrating their wedding anniversary.

He admitted becoming involved in an altercation, claiming that he was trying to defend himself, but admitted throwing punches at the man and one punch at the woman.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes adjourned sentencing for Jenna O’Sullivan until September 8 to allow time for a probation report to be completed.

Sentencing for Padraig O’Sullivan will take place after any trial for the allegations he has denied.

A pre-trial review for those will be held in summary court on September 22.

Bail was granted for both of them.