‘I just remember waking up in a cell’: Limerick man assaults cyclist stopped in traffic
Nigel Price has a number of previous convictions, including for criminal damage, assault, theft, possession of drugs for sale/supply and false imprisonment
A LIMERICK man, who says he has an acquired brain injury as a result of being stabbed in the head, has been jailed for stealing a phone.
Nigel Price, aged 31, with an address at Johnsgate Village, Limerick, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, arising from an incident on December 9, 2025.
Limerick Circuit Court heard that the victim in this case, a Chinese national aged in his late 30s, was cycling to a friend’s house when he stopped in traffic near St John’s Square.
Prosecuting Barrister John O’Sullivan told Judge Colin Daly that suddenly two men approached the victim at approximately 11:15pm. The pair grabbed the man, knocked him to the ground and began punching him. His phone was taken during the ordeal.
Mr O’Sullivan said the victim, who has been living in Ireland for a number of years, recalled being punched in the head and that it “really hurt.” He was bleeding and “very afraid” of the two men, one of which was Nigel Price.
Giving evidence, Detective Garda Michael Brennan, of Henry Street garda station, said that on this night, gardaí were on patrol in the area and observed two males punching and pulling at the pockets of another man. Detective Brennan said the victim was seen trying to defend himself but due to his smaller stature, was unsuccessful in doing so.
Limerick Circuit Court heard that gardaí stopped their vehicle and identified themselves. The two perpetrators then attempted to flee but Mr Price was apprehended shortly later.
Following his arrest, the Limerick man was interviewed by authorities where he originally denied any involvement in the robbery. However, as it progressed, Mr Price told gardaí he was “sorry” and that this was “very out of character” for him “if it's true”.
“I just remember waking up in a cell,” he said during the interview.
Judge Daly was informed that the victim attended St John’s Hospital in the aftermath of the robbery. He had minor injuries, including bruises and cuts, but has since made a full recovery. The victim’s stolen phone was also recovered some days later after being discarded in an area close to St John’s Square. He declined to make a victim impact statement.
Limerick Circuit Court heard that Nigel Price has a number of previous convictions, including for criminal damage, assault, theft, possession of drugs for sale/supply and false imprisonment.
Defence Barrister Joseph McMahon said his client has had some difficulties finding employment due to his convictions and that he cannot remember the robbery as he was consistently drinking alcohol for three days prior to the offence.
He put it to the court that Mr Price even had to ask gardaí if he was alone or acted with someone on the night of December 9, 2025 and that this behaviour was in fact “out of character,” as his client had previously stated, since he had not offended in the five years before this incident.
Mr McMahon informed Judge Daly that the man comes from a “socially disadvantaged” area and became a father at just 15-years-old.
It was heard that Mr Price also told his barrister he has an acquired brain injury as a result of being stabbed in the head and experiences fits due to his past drug use.
The 31-year-old told gardaí he was “a fool acting like this close to Christmas.”
In mitigation, Mr McMahon told Limerick Circuit Court that his client comes by way of a signed guilty plea and has written a letter to express his remorse.
In this letter, Mr Price said that his life was going good until his cousin was murdered and that he began using substances to cope with this. He eventually became homeless as a result, with the man saying his addiction “led me to make bad decisions.” The 31-year-old stated that he is both “ashamed” and “deeply sorry” for his actions.
Mr Price told the court he has availed of addiction services and regularly attends the gym while in custody. He plans to live with his mother post-release, take up an apprenticeship and ultimately wants to “build my life again”.
It was his barrister’s view that this letter shows “great insight” and reaffirmed that Mr Price’s memory of the incident “is hazy.” Mr McMahon said his client did not contest matters but that he could not offer an explanation as to why he did this due to his poor recollection.
Mr McMahon further believes that rehabilitation is now a “realistic prospect” for the man and asked Judge Daly to include a period of suspension when sentencing to ensure his client can engage with services upon release.
In sentencing, Judge Colin Daly said Mr Price “assaulted” and “accosted” the victim, leaving him with “soft tissue” injuries. He said the father-of-three targeted a lone cyclist unprovoked in, what he described, as a sustained attack.
With the maximum sentence for robbery being one of life in prison, the judge was satisfied that Mr Price’s offending fell into the lower range and set a headline sentence of three years imprisonment.
Taking into account the man’s guilty plea, life circumstances, brain injury, genuine remorse shown, history of addiction and his plans post-release, Judge Colin Daly suspended the final 18 months for a period of three years. This is on an own bond of €100 as long as Mr Price keeps the peace, be of good behaviour and engage with the probation service.