Longford man appears in court charged with confronting lorry driver with knife in 'very serious road rage' incident

Amazon worker Valquir Borges (51), 6 The Hawthorns, Clonbalt Woods, Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court this morning following an incident along the N4, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on September 23 2022.

He was charged with the possession of a knife contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the production of an article during the course of a dispute.

Garda Padraig Nolan told the court the episode stemmed from an alleged "road rage" incident after the accused allegedly pulled in front of a lorry.

He said the lorry driver sounded the horn of his vehicle before both men pulled in and got out of their vehicles.

Garda Nolan said as the lorry driver went to approach the accused man's car, Mr Borges exited his own vehicle armed with a large knife.

He told presiding Judge Bernadette Owens the lorry driver retreated to his own vehicle and drove away seconds later.

The court was informed dash cam footage relating to the incident would also form part of the prosecution's case.

Judge Owens asked if Mr  Borges made any threats towards the alleged victim, something Garda Nolan said had not been fully determined.

"There was shouting, but the injured party is not in a position to indicate what was said," he said.

"It was a very short interchange between the two."

Defence solicitor Bríd Mimnagh said her client would be professing his innocence to the charges before the court.

"He believed that the main aggressor was the lorry driver," she said.

Judge Owens described the incident as a "very serious matter" before accepting jurisdiction on the case.

In granting legal aid to Mr Borges, Judge Owens remanded him on bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on February 7, 2023.