Thomas McClenaghan: former police officer punches window in road rage incident

A former cop who got out of his car mid-traffic jam and violently punched a stranger’s window has told a court his treatment in the police force had something to do with it all.

A former police officer responsible for a frightening road rage incident has largely blamed a post traumatic stress disorder caused by his frontline work and the lack of psychological support he was given.

Maroubra man Thomas Aaron McClenaghan, 42, got out of his car mid-traffic jam and punched a man’s car window twice before “forcefully yanking” the door handle and punching the window again, a court heard.

The incident took place on a busy Sydney road on February 17 last year, three years after leaving Victoria Police.

According to agreed facts, McClenaghan was driving a Ford Ranger northbound on Doncaster Av in Kensington about 7:30am as the victim travelled east along Goodwood St.

The victim’s wife – who captured the incident on her dashcam – was driving behind him.

Former police officer Thomas McClenaghan leaves Waverley Court. Photo: Tim Hunter

McClenaghan stopped his car before the intersection of Goodwood St and Doncaster Ave to allow the victim and his wife to turn left onto Doncaster Ave, the facts read.

The victim turned and drove north along Doncaster Ave, followed by his wife then McClenaghan, all driving in the same lane.

When traffic stopped, McClenaghan accelerated towards the victim’s wife’s car before abruptly stopping.

In response, the woman began to drive forward, but McClenaghan kept driving very close to her rear.

The road rage took place on a busy Sydney road with bumper to bumper traffic. Generic Photo.

The victim saw this happening and pulled over in the next lane to allow his wife to pass, but then McClenaghan started driving directly behind the victim.

When traffic stopped moving again, McClenaghan exited his car and walked to the driver’s window of the victim’s car.

According to the facts, McClenaghan “used his right closed fist and struck the victim’s window twice”.

“(He) turned and took three steps towards his car before returning to the victim’s car where he took hold of the driver’s door handle.”

The victim’s wife caught the incident on her dashcam.

McClenaghan “yanked forcefully” on the door handle twice, trying unsuccessfully to open the locked door but causing the handle to become stuck in an open position.

“After failing to open the door, (McClenaghan) punched the window once more before returning to his car.”

McClenaghan’s lawyer Fahim Khan told the court there was “a set of facts” which happened before those tendered to court in which the victim stuck his middle finger up at McClenaghan.

He said what McClenaghan did was “in no way deserved” but it was “exactly how people with PTSD operate”.

“In his three years as a police officer, despite being told he would be provided psychological treatment after experiencing acute incidents, in no way did he,” Mr Khan told the court.

“He had four traumatic incidents in a four-year period. He left the police force in 2018 and moved to NSW”.

Trauma was expected in police work, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said, noting she was a police officer for 24 years.

McClenaghan’s lawyer said his client suffered from PTSD. Photo: Tim Hunter

“I know what it’s like to see dismembered people,” she said. “I understand the reason as to why there needs to be proper support for people going through that, so I don’t dismiss what I read in the psychological report, however, on this day you were just angry.

“You didn’t like what was going on in traffic and you just lost it”.

Magistrate Milledge said she accepted McClenaghan was a person of otherwise good character.

She did not convict McClenaghan for intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging property worth less than $2000, being the victim’s door handle.

Having pleaded guilty to the charge, McClenaghan was placed on an 18-month community corrections order.