Cyclist said he had gone back to apologise to the woman when he was abused and so lashed out.
A man has escaped going to prison after he admitted using a key and a screwdriver as he assaulted a tourist in a row over cycling of a footpath in Dublin.
Karl Manning, a 41-year-old with an address on North Great Charles St in the city, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a Spanish man during an incident on Middle Abbey St on August 25th last.
He also admitted possession of an offensive weapon in the shape of a screwdriver on the same date during the same incident.
The victim in the case, Gerard Parareda suffered a small puncture wound to his cheek and scratches to his back but has since made a full recovery.
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The court was told Mr Parareda was walking on the footpath as Manning cycled past and brushed off a woman in the victim's company.
As Manning continued on his way on his bike, one of the party he had passed shouted after him, calling him an idiot and protesting he should not be cycling on the pavement.
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Manning turned back and approached the group, taking a key from his pocket and swinging at Mr Parareda, hitting him.
The group Mr Parareda was with then tried to hold Manning at the scene, at which point he took a screwdriver from his pocket and began hitting his victim again.
The Dubliner later told the gardai he regretted using the screwdriver in the assault. He said he was carrying it as a tool to fix his bike and never meant to use it as a weapon.
He said he had gone back to the group he had passed to apologise to the woman he had brushed off but was abused and reacted to that.
The court was told his business had recently closed and he was going through a difficult and stressful period.
Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the Probation Act on him meaning he was free to go on condition he keeps the peace for six months.
The court was told he had eight convictions for minor offences but had not come before the courts since 2006.
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