Dog walker fined €250 after motorist altercation

A dog walker and a motorist got into an altercation where she got out of her car and tackled him with an umbrella and he whipped his dog lead at her face knocking her glasses off.

Kevin O’Callaghan, 42, was walking his two dogs at St Rita’s Avenue, Gurranabraher, when Shirley Twohig — who knew O’Callaghan as ‘Sonic’ — drove in. He took exception to her failure to indicate and the row ensued.

The incident dated to 6pm on February 9, 2012, and yesterday O’Callaghan who used to live at Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, and now lived in Youghal, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting Ms Twohig.

Inspector Mary King said O’Callaghan was walking his two dogs when Ms Twohig drove into St Rita’s Avenue.

“There was a verbal dispute about her failing to indicate. He spat in the window at her. She got out and took out her umbrella to confront him. He whipped his dog lead at her face knocking off her glasses. She left the area. She received a cut to her nose, she had a black eye afterwards,” Insp King said.

He was out of the country up to 2014 which explained some of the delay. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said that in the verbal altercation the injured party was giving at least as good as she was getting. Mr Buttimer said rather than the dispute being black and white it was grey. He said O’Callaghan felt provoked to flick the lead but was advised that provocation was no excuse for his aggression.

“To that extent he acknowledges he over-reacted,” Mr Buttimer said.

Judge Tim Lucey said “she did something he thought was wrong, he berates her, she alleges he spat in the window. It would want to be very bad to spit in to somebody’s car. Then she goes at him with an umbrella. She is brave enough but she should not do that either.

“They could all have run away but they wanted to engage with each other. If you do that you take the consequences,” he said.

The judge said in all the circumstances he would fine the accused €250 for the assault. Judge Lucey asked if anyone else had been charged with any offence arising out of the altercation. Insp King said only O’Callaghan was charged.