TWO men involved in a road rage incident in Bantry were declared to be ‘decent men’ by the presiding judge who dismissed the charges and applied the Probation Act.

Stephen Keohane (63) of 4 Ard na Gleanna, Seskin, Bantry, was charged with using threatening and abusive words or behaviour, contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act.

It was also alleged that he assaulted Stephen Barrett on July 22nd 2024 in the SuperValu car park.

On that charge, Judge Carroll said she would apply the Probation Act provided the accused paid €275 to the court poor box.

Stephen Barrett (53) of Tosnua, Snave, Bantry, was also charged with engaging in threatening and abusive words or behaviour, and obstruction.

Gda David Harmon said Stephen Barrett called to the station saying an unknown man had approached him while he was in his vehicle, opened the door and grabbed him around the neck.

A short time later, Stephen Keohane called to the station and explained that he had been involved in an incident earlier that day.

Both men made voluntary statements. Stephen Barrett claimed that Stephen Keohane veered towards his lane as he was turning at Wolfe Tone Square and driving down the single lane before turning left to go to SuperValu.

Mr Barrett said he sounded the horn, and he saw Stephen Keohane’s vehicle driving close behind him before he turned left towards Harbour View.

Stephen Keohane admitted he might have encroached on the other man’s lane, but he said he saw the van driver turn diagonally in his path claiming he ‘used both lanes’.

Stephen Keohane alleged that Mr Barrett ‘sat in the entrance’ to the car park.

He admitted approaching him while he was still seated in his van to ask: ‘Why did you lay on the horn and why did you cut me off?’

Mr Keohane said he had walked away but Mr Barrett used foul language, so he turned and pulled the van door open because he thought Barrett was going to hit him with the door.

He alleged that Mr Barrett got out of his van, followed him and said he was going to ‘get’ him. 

Mr Barrett said he only made a formal complaint after hearing that Mr Keohane had made counter allegations against him.

That day, he said he was on his way to collect a birthday cake that he had ordered for his wife.

Judge Joanne Carroll reviewed CCTV footage of the incident from two different angles, and it was established that there is only one lane before the turn to SuperValu.

Stephen Barrett alleged that Mr Keohane was tailgating him and at the car park he had opened the door of the van and ‘tried to rip me out by the neck’.

‘I was in complete shock,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t understand why someone was after going that far and losing it.’

Stephen Keohane said he received a tirade of abuse. ‘I took insult and opened the door and stood in his face but I didn’t touch him,’ he told the court.

He alleged that Mr Barrett was ‘yelling at me saying: “I know you. I am going to get you”. And he was circling the car, obstructing me from leaving the car park.’

Stephen Keohane admitted: ‘Yes, I was aggravated. If I hadn’t let it get under my skin we wouldn’t be here at all.’

‘Both are decent men,’ Judge Carroll remarked.

‘Stephen Keohane was very honest. In his evidence he said his lane management was not all it should be.’

The judge held that ‘even going into a person’s space is an assault’ but noted that Stephen Barrett ‘overdid it by circling the vehicle’.

‘This should never have happened,’ said the judge who rose from the bench and gave the two men an opportunity to resolve their differences.

This was done privately, outside the courtroom.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.