Cyclist left with bruised neck after rope tied across street

A woman was knocked off her bicycle and left with significant bruising to her neck and hand after colliding with a taut rope that was tied to lamp posts on either side of a Dublin street over the weekend.

A Garda spokesman last night confirmed they were appealing for information and witnesses to the incident, which occurred late on Sunday night on Mercer Street in Dublin 2.

Monique Kelleher was cycling along when she hit the rope tied across the darkened street between two poles and went “flying” off her bicycle.

Gardaí said Ms Kelleher was taken to St James’s Hospital for treatment. She later posted pictures online to warn other cyclists of the danger, and told broadsheet.ie that “a group of kids” had tied a rope from pole to pole across the street, “targeting cars and cyclists”.

“I was cycling past and my neck got caught in the rope, causing me to fly off my bike and hit the ground,” she said.

“Luckily I haven’t broken any bones, and have come away with light injuries - but someone else may not be so lucky. I just want to warn other cyclists and the public that this is happening, as I haven’t heard of it before in Dublin.”

Gardaí said they were aware of the incident but that no arrests have been made at this point and an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda station on (01) 6669000.