Dublin-based judge’s remarks on cyclists, ‘disappointing’, says Cork advocate

A Dublin-based judge has been criticised by public representatives and local groups in Cork for “upsetting” and “wrong” comments made about cyclists.

Circuit Court judge James O’Donohue recently described cyclists as a “nightmare” while handing down a judgment on a road traffic collision case.

Mr O’Donohue reduced damages awarded to a cyclist, who was involved in a collision with a motorcyclist, by 80%. In doing so, he said: “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,” the judge added.

Opposition

Following the inflammatory statement, there has been widespread opposition to the rhetoric that cyclists are to blame for poor infrastructure planning, with representatives of the Labour Party submitting an official complaint about Mr O’Donohue to the judicial council.

Speaking to The Echo, Ruth Bullough of Cycle Sense in Skibbereen said she is concerned that such comments from a figure of authority may contribute to further toxic behaviours towards cyclists on Irish roads.

“I think it was irresponsible of him to talk like that,” said Ms Bullough. 

“It’s a pity, to paint all cyclists in such a way, it doesn’t help, and was really disappointing.

“There are huge benefits to cycling, everything across the board from personal, physical and mental health, to environmental health.

“I worry about his comments because I presume he is very influential — people are always looking for scapegoats to the world’s problems, but cyclists aren’t it.

“We’re vulnerable road users, and because we’re mostly not segregated into safer places, we have to negotiate the traffic and sometimes behave or move in certain ways,” she added.

“We should be encouraging cyclists, but the movement to building infrastructure hasn’t caught up to what cyclists need, so there’s always going to be issues.

“It’s a hostile environment — cycling with vehicles — but there is a way of doing it and well-known infrastructure that could be implemented.

“Some people think the roads are owned by motorists, but that’s an issue because we need to share them.”

Apologise

She said the judge’s comments were “disappointing”, adding: “I would like him to apologise, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.”

In the Dáil last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he rejected “any stereotyping of cyclists, or any categorisation of cyclists”.

“I don’t want to breach any separation of powers, but any general comment, to the effect that it impacts negatively in terms of the perspective on cyclists, is wrong — it shouldn’t happen,” he said.

“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.”

In a joint statement, Labour Party councillor for the Cork City South-East ward, Peter Horgan, and Green Party councillor for the Cork City North-East ward, Oliver Moran, said they are both alarmed and disappointed by Mr O’Donohue’s comments.

“Such remarks are unhelpful, unfair and distract from the real issue,” they said.

“Ireland’s transport system, both in Dublin and here in Cork, remains dangerously under-equipped to support safe, healthy and sustainable travel.”