Matt Cooper and George Hook clash on cyclists

It all got a little frosty between Matt Cooper and George Hook after the Today FM presenter branded the rugby pundit a “criminal”.

The pair were appearing on TV3’s Ireland AM to discuss Transport Minister’s Paschal Donohoe’s announcement that there will be a fixed charge notice system for cyclists.

Hook declared that he “hates cyclists with a passion”, before going on to say that the overwhelming majority of cyclists are criminals.

“I hate cyclists with a passion,” said the curmudgeonly radio personality.

“Well, I hate criminals and they [cyclists] break the law routinely. There is no sanction. They do what the hell they like. They’re a threat to themselves, they’re a threat to pedestrians — and ultimately they’re a threat to motorcars, as motorcars trying to avoid these lunatics will have an accident.”

Talking now to my new favourite Minister @Paschald who is tackling the dastardly cyclists

— George Hook (@ghook) July 2, 2015

However, Cooper was quick to turn the tables on Hook by pointing out that he himself was a criminal with a string of road traffic convictions.

“He [George] goes on about criminals,” said Cooper. “George, you’re the criminal. You’ve got a string of road traffic offence convictions. I found three last night when I was searching the internet over a short period of time.

“There was a judge who said that you were close to being — what was the phrase that was used? — A ‘serial traffic offender’, and you were in court a number of times for breaking the speed limit. Speed is the most dangerous thing on the road.”

Hook denied speeding was the most dangerous thing on the road and refused to budge on his position, saying he looked forward to the next time he was on a footpath and a cyclist came down it so he could stand in the way “until a garda arrives to hand him a fixed notice”.