Ivor Callely opens up about horrific bike crash that almost killed him

The controversial former minister was left incapacitated at the side of the road in Co Cork

Controversial former minister Ivor Callely has opened up about his horrific bike crash last year that almost killed him.

The ex-Fianna Fail TD was left incapacitated at the side of the road in Co Cork after a tree fell on him last August.

An emotional Mr Callely opened up about the incident that left him fighting for his life and praised the kind gentleman who spotted him lying injured.

The Dublin man served as a Fianna Fail TD from 1989 to 2007 and served as a Minister of State between 2002 and 2005.

A fraud scandal in 2012 saw Mr Callely spend five months in Wheatfield Prison after being found guilty of claiming mobile phone expenses fraudulently.

Speaking to Joe Duffy on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline, he said: “We all have incidents in our lives, unfortunately I had quite a bad smack.

“I’ve been through a bit of a turbulent period of my life in recent times and if there’s one thing I really enjoyed, it was getting down to west Cork and doing a bit of cycling.

“On a very fine sunny day in August, I was out for a cycle to help clear my head.

“I can’t recall much of the incident, other then there being a bit of a storm or a gale the night before so I presume some of the trees along the road were damaged.

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“But when I was out, it was a beautiful calm morning.

“All I can really recall is something hitting my head and the next I knew, I was on the ground.

“I’ve no recollection of what happened in that split incident other than I couldn’t move.

“I was frightened, and to be honest I haven’t really spoken about what happened much.

“When I came to, I knew there was something seriously wrong because I couldn’t move.

“I couldn’t move my face, none of my limbs were moving and I had this frightening experience of my head spinning around like a football and it was totally disconnected from my body, which was an appalling sensation.

“It was probably the most fearful thing in my life.

“I called out for help but I was weak.

“I was lying there about 40 minutes and I was delighted to hear a car coming.

“I heard it going into reverse and then reversing away. I couldn’t see the car, I didn’t know where I was.

“I discovered lately that there was a tree down, blocking the view of the road.

“I presume the driver came, saw the tree and then reversed away.

“20 minutes later I heard footsteps and this man asking if I was ok and did I need help.

“He showed great kindness to me”.

After a few days he was transported to the National Spinal Unit in the Mater Hospital in Dublin. He had neck surgery and fused discs and put titanium discs into his neck.

He added: “I can’t cycle or jog, I walk with the aid of sticks.

“I have good days and I have bad days.

“I can’t put on my own socks or trousers properly.”