A painter was yesterday ordered to pay €1,000 in compensation after he admitted taking out a golf club and smashing the windscreen of another car in a road rage incident on a busy roundabout in Cork city.
Father of three, William Lyons (26), Cliona Park, Moyross in Limerick had been involved in a heated exchange with his wife in their car on their way home from holiday on March 4th, 2004 when the incident happened, Cork District Court was told.
Insp Con Cadogan said as Lyons approached the Kinsale Road Roundabout in Cork, he took exception to a manoeuvre by another motorist who ended up stopped at traffic lights on the signalised roundabout and what followed was "a classic case of road rage".
Garda Seán Barry said there was an exchange of gestures between Lyons and the other male driver before Lyons got out of his car, took out a golf club and proceeded to smash the windscreen of the other car, making the other driver fear for his safety. "He was terrified on the day," said Garda Barry.
Lyons completely smashed in the windscreen in the incident which was witnessed by other motorists who contacted gardaí.
Although Lyons had left the scene, gardaí were able to trace the car to him and they subsequently travelled to Limerick to interview him. A file was sent to the DPP who directed that assault and criminal damage charges be laid against him.
Lyons's solicitor, Frank Buttimer said his client accepted that his behaviour was entirely unacceptable and "totally over the top".
He was genuinely remorseful over what happened and had put together €500 to compensate for the broken windscreen.
Mr Buttimer pointed out that, while his client had been totally in the wrong on the day, he did not have any previous convictions and he asked Judge Uinsinn MacGruairc to be as lenient as possible in dealing with the case.
Judge MacGruairc noted Lyons had no previous convictions and was previously of good character and for that reason, he didn't believe the case should be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence.
Judge MacGruairc convicted Lyons of Section 2 assault and criminal damage and ordered him to hand over €500 compensation to the injured party for the broken windscreen while he ordered him to pay a further €500 "as a gesture of apology" for the road rage incident.