Taoiseach says judge’s ‘nightmare’ comments about cyclists are wrong

Labour has lodged a Judicial Council complaint after a Dublin judge’s remarks on cyclists drew sharp political criticism

Woman riding a bike. Cycling stock shot

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described comments by a Dublin judge, who described cyclists as a “nightmare,” as “wrong.”

The Labour Party has submitted a complaint to the Judicial Council about comments made by Circuit Court judge James O’Donohoe earlier this week.

Judge O’Donohoe reduced damages awarded to a cyclist involved in a collision with a motorcycle by 80%.

He told the court that “you never know with cyclists what they are going to do or anticipate what they are going to do”.

“Cyclists have become a nightmare in Dublin,” Judge O’Donohoe added.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik raised the comments in the Dáil, saying they had “generated a great deal of negativity.”

“We've seen some scapegoating of cyclists in the in public discourse, and it was appalling in particular to see the Irish Road Haulage Association using the opportunity to punch down on cyclists,” she told the Taoiseach.

In response, Mr Martin told the Dáil that while he respected the separation of powers between the courts and Government, comments such as those made by Judge O’Donohoe were “wrong.”

“I reject any stereotyping of cyclists or any categorisation of cyclists,” he said.

“I don't want to breach any separation of powers, but I'm very clear that any general comment to the effect that it impacts negatively in terms of the perspective on cyclists is wrong. It shouldn’t happen.

“We should be very clear about the importance of cycling and facilitating cyclists and also being very careful in terms of contested space on our roads in terms of making sure that we protect cyclists.” 

Labour TD and transport spokesperson Ciarán Ahern submitted a formal complaint to the Judicial Council following Judge O’Donohoe’s remarks.

“The commentary by Judge James O’Donohoe is deeply problematic and has exhibited a clear perception of bias against cyclists in his decision-making,” he said.

“These comments were beyond what was necessary to determine the matter before the court, and what’s more, they have opened the floodgates around negative, uninformed remarks about cyclists.

"I was appalled to see the Deputy Vice President of the Road Hauliers Association jump at the opportunity to punch down on cyclists and vulnerable road users; this demonstrates the influence of the judiciary in our society and the importance that is attached to all judicial utterances.

“‘Cyclists have become a nightmare in Dublin’ is an untrue, unfair, and frankly ignorant statement.

“The reality is actually much the opposite - being a cyclist is often a nightmare with a lack of safe, segregated cycle lanes, dangerous junctions, poor lighting, poor maintenance of existing bike lanes and record levels of bike theft among some of the many issues cyclists face in Dublin and across the country.”