Unionist peer Ken Maginnis has been found guilty of assaulting another driver in a ‘road rage’ incident last June.
The former Fermanagh and South Tyrone UUP MP was convicted of common assault after a contest hearing at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Monday.
The 75-year-old from Park Lane in Dungannon strenuously denied the prosecution’s charge that he pulled out in front of another male motorist and reacted to a horn being blown at him by physically accosting the man behind the wheel.
Lord Maginnis admitted swearing at the male driver on June 7 2012, but denied grabbing him. He claimed that it was the driver of the other car who had created the confrontation, through what he alleged was the man’s bad driving.
The prosecution however alleged that Maginnis had grabbed the injured party in his vehicle, verbally abused him and raised in his fist in a manner that gave rise to a fear of assault.
In a number of court appearances in the build up to Monday’s contest, where he represented himself, Lord Maginnis claimed his was the victim of “conspiracy and corruption”, which he levelled at the feet of Justice Minister David Ford.
After considering the submissions, District Judge John Meehan found the former school principal, police officer, army major and MP guilty, imposing a £200 fine and ordering him to pay the injured party an additional £200.
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