Concerned motorists pursued hairdresser on West Cork road after he overtook milk tanker and SUV at speed

Members of the public were so concerned by the driving of a hairdresser on a West Cork road that they followed him to a nearby petrol station and reported him to gardaí, the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that Ricardo Fernando Teglas was charged with careless driving in relation to an incident near Ballineen on November 1, 2024. 

The court heard that Teglas was observed at 6.45am on the R586 road at Manch near Ballineen heading in the direction of Dunmanway.

A large milk tanker had stopped at a junction to turn off the road and an SUV travelling behind the tanker had also slowed down. Teglas overtook both vehicles at speed, crossing the central median forcing vehicles coming in the opposite direction to take evasive action.

Members of the public in two vehicles followed Teglas to a petrol station in Dunmanway where he was confronted about his driving and reported to the gardaí.

Defence solicitor, Éamonn Fleming, said Teglas, with an address at Parkview, Kilbrogan, Bandon, was originally from Argentina and worked full-time as a hairdresser. 

He said his client apologised to the concerned motorists at the petrol station and was not aggressive in any way. Mr Fleming said Teglas was pleading guilty and had no previous convictions.

Judge Joanne Carroll convicted Teglas of careless driving, contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 and fined him €200 allowing three months to pay the fine.