Car veered over white line after cyclist gesture

A man has been convicted of careless driving after a road rage incident involving cyclists on the Ballygawley to Sligo road.

The court heard that two men were cycling on that road on April 3rd 2016, cycling abreast when a car overtook them, quite close to them.

It was driven by 62 year old Henryk Urbaniak of Riocht na Sí, Ballygawley.

Inspector Paul Kilcoyne said the driver “sounded the horn and one of the cyclists made a hand gesture.”

The car slowed down and one of the cyclists went alongside the driver’s side of the car.

It was alleged the car veered out to the other side of the road: “The car drifted across the road, forcing him to brake sharply to avoid a collision,” said the inspector.

The Gardaí were called and went to visit Urbaniak at his home.

“He seems to have an issue with cyclists. He became animated calling the cyclists “idiots”,” said Inspector Kilcoyne.

Defence solicitor Mr Tom MacSharry said his client had no previous convictions and had been living here for 12 years.

“I explained how popular cycling is in Sligo now and he fully accepts he must be more vigilant,” he told Judge Kevin Kilrane.

“I’m not sure if he intended to wedge them off the road or what but there was a bit of road rage,” he said.

He convicted Urbaniak and fined him ¤ 200.