A racing cyclist from Dublin has given evidence in court against a driver with whom he was involved in a serious incident last year.
A rider from Usher Irish Road Club in Dublin has told a court that a motorist swore at him and swerved at him, knocking him to the ground while he was out training.
Maurice Phelan, Bert House Stud, Kilberry, Athy, Co Kildare, disputed the details outlined by cyclist Fergus Sharkey at a sitting of Athy District Court.
However, Judge Desmond Zaidan fined Phelan €1,000 in relation to the careless driving charge against him and told him he was lucky the charge was not one of road rage.
The incident dated back to November 15th, 2014, when Phelan came upon Mr Sharkey as he was cycling near Kildangan, between Athy and Monasterevin.
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Mr Sharkey told the court that Phelan initially drove his 4X4 aggressively beside him on the road.
He then said Phelan wound down the window of his vehicle, which was pulling a trailer, and asked if he “had a fucking problem”.
Mr Sharkey told the court he replied: “Yes I do have a problem with your driving”.
He continued to the court: “He swerved in my direction. I pulled back and got his registration number and thought that was the end of that.
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“But he swerved back and the trailer brushed off my leg. I got thrown off into the ditch.”
The court was told while Phelan admitted in a statement he later gave to the gardai that he drove carelessly, he disputed the nature of his actions.
His solicitor, Paul Cunningham, told the court that Phelan had not veered his vehicle towards Mr Sharkey and questioned whether there had been any contact between the cyclist and the trailer.
Mr Cunningham said there was no damage to the bike or the man riding it.
“I am an experience cyclist,” Mr Sharkey said in reply.
Phelan said he saw Mr Sharkey wave his fist at him as he drove past, which he claimed was the first indication he had of any problem.
He explained he wound down his window and words were exchanged but denied his trailer made contact with Mr Sharkey.
Judge Zaidan asked whether there was any reason he should not disqualify Phelan from driving and was told by Mr Cunningham it would damage the accused man’s livelihood.
Imposing a fine of €1,000, Judge Zaidan said: “He is very fortunate he was not charged with road rage.”
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