Motorist convicted of assaulting cyclist in 'classic road rage' incident in Cork City

The incident happened after the cyclist leaned into his car, grabbed his keys and threw them away

The court heard the motorist lifted the bicycle by the saddle until the cyclist fell over with the driver falling on top of him. File picture: PA/thinkstockphotos

A classic case of road rage saw a motorist get out of his car and lift a bicycle by the saddle until the cyclist fell over with the driver falling on top of him on a sunny afternoon in Cork City.

The driver complained that the cyclist leaned into his car, grabbed his keys and threw them away and that they were never found. But the cyclist was of the opinion that the keys were found and he said the only reason he threw them away was because he was afraid the motorist would drive after him.

The motorist on trial at Cork District Court arising out of the incident was Peyman Nasser of The Downs, Broadale, Douglas Court, Cork. He denied all charges against him.

However, Judge Philip O’Leary convicted him on all counts, described it as classic road rage and said “maybe rage management or at least safe driving” should be considered. Penalty was adjourned until June 23.

After hearing evidence from the motorist, the cyclist and eye witnesses at the junction of Washington Street and Grand Parade, Judge O’Leary said: “I am satisfied he is guilty of assault and Section 6 (engaging in threatening behaviour). 

It is a classic road rage incident. He was completely out of hand. The cyclist was right to take the keys out.

“He (Mr Nasser) was threatening and aggressive. He did not care whether he hurt the cyclist. He lifted his bike by the saddle and knocked him to the ground and fell on top of him. It was a road rage incident. Your carry-on after — your intimidation of the injured party — was outrageous.” 

Donal Daly, solicitor, said: “He was never involved in an incident like this previously. He is 60 and is a restaurateur.” Inspector Mark Keating said Peyman Nasser’s only convictions were under the Road Traffic Act and included careless driving and speeding.

Judge O’Leary said: “He seems to have difficulty when he is in a vehicle.” The judge sought a probation report to include assessment for a community service order and adjourned the case for this purpose until June 23.

On Sunday afternoon, June 6, 2024, a middle-aged cyclist, Thomas Sanctuary, said he tapped on a window of the car to see what was wrong as the driver appeared to be gesticulating. He said the motorist “had no regard for anyone else on that sunny Sunday and that is why we are here.” 

He said he caught the keys and threw them in the direction of the footpath by the English Market on Grand Parade because he feared the defendant would follow him. “I just felt under attack,” Mr Sanctuary said.

Mr Nasser testified that he was driving slowly and saw the bicycle very close to the car and said he commented at the time: “You are going to hurt yourself, mate.” He said the cyclist punched his car, “all of a sudden the big bangs coming.” 

He said he tried to de-escalate the situation but wanted to know why the cyclist "punched" the window of the car, “not to physically interact with him — that is not the way to do things.” 

The defendant said he never recovered the car key taken and thrown by the cyclist and that it was only with his partner’s spare key that he drove away afterwards. He said he was the one who phoned for the gardaí.

Eyewitness, Aaron Meade who did not know any of the parties, testified: “Mr Nasser came after the cyclist. He lifted up the back wheel fully off the ground and tipped it over. The cyclist fell. Mr Nasser seems to have tripped on top of the cyclist, not necessarily intentionally. The struggle was more trying to disentangle themselves more than physically assault. 

"He was demanding keys. You could see the cyclist was very nervous, looking under cars. Mr Nasser kept insisting, ‘You get those keys’. It was under threat of violence is what I took from it.”