Cyclist woke up in ditch not knowing how he got there, Cork court hears

A cyclist who as found lying in a ditch by a remote country road in the early evening told the court he had “no idea” how he got there.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that gardaí received a call about a man lying in a ditch by a country road near Clonakilty in Co Cork on December 6, 2025.

When they arrived at the scene at 6.30pm an individual identified as Peter Delacy, aged 54, of Droumgarriffe, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork, was lying in the ditch.

He was helped to his feet and the gardaí formed the opinion that he was highly intoxicated. Mr Delacy was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others.

He was subsequently taken to Clonakilty Garda Station, where he was charged with being intoxicated in a public place contrary to Section 4 of Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. The court heard that Mr Delacy who represented himself had no previous convictions. He told the court he was “cycling back from town” when he “went off the road”. He said he subsequently woke up in the ditch.

Judge Joanne Carroll said “it could have ended very differently” for Mr Delacy as he was wearing dark clothes on a country road and she asked him if he had an issue with alcohol to which he replied that he may have.

Mr Delacy was admitted to a probation bond for 12 months on condition he co-operates with the Probation Service, attends all appointments, attends addiction treatment and avails of training or employment.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.