Pensioner denies making 'offensive hand gestures' to women on Co Kildare road

A 71 year-old Co Kildare  man with a clean driving licence for over 50 years denied using 'offensive hand gestures' to a mother and her heavily pregnant daughter while on the road.

The pensioner, with an address in Nurney, was charged with driving dangerously and careless driving at the R415 Grey Abbey, Nurney Road, on July 23, 2015.

At Naas District Court, evidence was given by a woman, alleging that the accused did not stop at the stop sign and went in front of her.

She told the court that as she passed the car, the accused made an 'offensive hand gesture' to her and her daughter, six months pregnant at the time.

The woman said that the accused followed her in his car.

She said:"I felt very intimidated. I can't say what was going on, he was blowing the car horn. I felt very intimidated. I was very nervous."

The court heard how she pulled over and she alleged that the accused started 'ranting and raving.'

She said: "He called both myself and my daughter a tramp. You are only a pup, he said to my daughter, he said that I should 'put a muzzle or something on her."

The court heard how she alleged the accused said: "Don't hit me, don't hit me. I said , 'I am not going to hit you.' I was very shaken."

The court heard how the mother and her daughter immediately issued a complaint at Athy Garda Station.

In court, the accused representing himself denied making any 'offensive hand gestures'.

He said: "I drive that road two to three times daily, it would be suicide to not stop at the stop sign. "

He said that the lady in question was driving 'like a scalded cat'.

She denied that she was speeding.

The accused told the court that he was not beeping his horn at the lady in question and only pulled in because he thought that she would apologise for her driving.

He alleged that her daughter got of the car and said, 'what the fxxxking Hell do you think you are doing.?"

She accused him of putting lives at risk.

The court heard how the accused needs his car to transport his dependent son.

Judge Desmond Zaidan dismissed the dangerous driving charges and imposed a €500 fine for careless driving.