Motorcyclist in court for road rage episode
The case was heard last week at Ballina Courthouse.
A man must make a full apology to another motorist whom he left in a state of “complete shock” after confronting her on the roadside.
Brendan Lynch, aged 64, The Herds, Woodfield, Kilkelly pleaded guilty at Ballina District Court to criminal damage and driving without insurance.
Sgt John O’Reilly told the court that the offences occurred on May 15, 2025, when the complainant in the case stopped her car outside the Swinford Medical Centre on Park Road to drop off her husband who was feeling sick. She turned on the warning lights on her car while stopped.
The defendant, who was driving a motorcycle, beeped at the motorist, overtook her vehicle and then shouted something at her. She moved her car and parked it, at which point Lynch, who had also parked his motorcycle, came towards the woman while she sat in her vehicle.
He began to shout abuse about the manner of her driving and then reached inside the vehicle and tried to grab the keys out of the ignition. The woman took hold of the keys and was able to stop Lynch removing them.
However, such was the force involved that Lynch snapped the remainder of the keys off the keyring. He then walked in front of the car and threw them "with full force" at a nearby wall before hopping on his motorcycle and departing down the Kilkelly Road.
Sgt O’Reilly said the incident left the complainant “in complete shock". Sgt Regina Carley met Lynch 10 days later and made a demand for his insurance, which he failed to produce. The damage to the keys was €230.
A victim impact statement was canvassed but not forthcoming. Lynch has no previous convictions.
Solicitor Peter Loftus said his client would say that the complainant’s vehicle stopped abruptly in front of him during this incident before he wrongfully approached her. In relation to having no insurance, Mr Loftus said Lynch thought he had been insured but did not have the appropriate insurance in place on the day. His client was changing houses around this time and had left a lot of documents behind while preparing to move.
Judge Sandra Murphy said the complainant acted “very magnanimous” in not making a victim impact statement and said Lynch must now contact her and offer a “fulsome” apology before she finalises the case.
“This was very unpleasant for this lady who was bringing her husband to the doctor and out of the blue, he tries to police the situation,” she said.
She adjourned the case until April 10.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
