A Kilkenny driver stopped his car and took a hurl from the boot of the vehicle before running after a cyclist who had just banged on his car in protest at a claimed close pass in south Dublin, a court has been told.
The same court hearing was told the cyclist in question was annoy at what he saw as a close pass by Kevin Fenlon (41), who the cyclist also believed was on his phone at the time.
However, Mr Fenlon's defence argued in court that their client immediately realised what he was doing was a major mistake and he desisted in his actions on the street in Dublin where the incident took place.
Mr Fenlon, a supermarket manager, with an address at Woodland Estate, Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Dublin District Court but emerged from the hearing without a criminal record.
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According to The Irish Independent, he pleaded guilty to producing a hurley, capable of inflicting serious injury, in a manner likely to intimidate another person in the course of a dispute. He also admitted threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.
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However, the court was told Mr Fenlon completely accepted his behaviour on the day last year was wrong. And during a restorative justice process he demonstrated great insight into his behaviour and was unlikely to be charged with offence in the future.
As a result Judge Treasa Kelly took into account the restorative justice report and dismissed the case under the Probation Act, meaning Mr Fenlon does not have a criminal record. He had never come to the attention of the Garda before.
The incident that brought him before the court occurred on Springfield Road, Terenure, on July 12th last year. The cyclist present believed Mr Fenlon passed him too closely and was on the phone at the time.
As a result, the cyclist uttered a "few words" and also banged on the roof of Mr Fenlon's car. Mr Fenlon then took a hurley from his boot and ran after the cyclist, who left the scene. The incident was recorded on CCTV.
Mr Fenlon's lawyer said his client had made a "mistake" in the heat of the moment. He realised what he was doing was "ridiculously stupid" and desisted before getting back into his car.
