Judge's comments show bias against cyclists is 'deeply embedded' in Irish society

There are five actions we can take to save lives on our roads, if we choose to implement them

In a widely reported court case, Judge James O'Donohoe said cyclists had become a nightmare in Dublin, as he reduced a €50,000 damages award by 80% to a cyclist injured in a collision with a motorcyclist.

When a judge dismisses cyclists as a “nightmare”, it exposes how deeply embedded bias against vulnerable road users remains in Irish society. These are not throwaway remarks — they reflect how far we are from the cultural shift required to build genuinely safe streets.

In a widely reported court case, Judge James O'Donohoe said cyclists had become a nightmare in Dublin, as he reduced a €50,000 damages award by 80% to a cyclist injured in a collision with a motorcyclist.