Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 15096Dangerous driving · Co. Laois · 23 Dec 2024

Appeal for information after BMW drives through Portlaoise garda checkpoint

At about 12.10am on Sunday 23 December 2024, a dark coloured BMW 520/530 drove through a garda checkpoint on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise, Co. Laois. The car then travelled out the Borris Road into Dr Murphy Place, where it collided with a parked car, and was involved in a hit-and-run and other dangerous driving incidents, which gardaí described as extremely dangerous and reckless. The driver has not been identified, and no victim is named in the reports. The latest development is a public appeal issued on 23 December 2024 for dash cam footage and for information from people in the area between 12.10am and 12.30am, with no arrest or charge reported.

  1. Reported23 Dec
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A dark coloured BMW 520/530 drove through a garda checkpoint on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise.
  • The car collided with a parked car in Dr Murphy Place.
  • The BMW was involved in a hit-and-run; one article places it in Portlaoise and another in the Midlands.
When
  • The checkpoint incident happened at about 12.10am on Sunday 23 December 2024.
  • Gardaí asked anyone travelling in the area between 12.10am and 12.30am to get in touch.
Where
The car then travelled out the Borris Road and into Dr Murphy Place.
Other details
  • Gardaí said the manner of driving was extremely dangerous and reckless.
  • The driver has not been identified, and no arrest or charge has been reported.
Investigation
  • Laois Roads Policing and Laois Road Protection Unit gardaí are investigating; the sources name the unit differently.
  • Gardaí asked the public to help locate or identify the vehicle and driver and appealed for dash cam footage.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA dark coloured BMW 520/530 drove through a checkpoint on the Dublin Road. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car was then involved in a number of dangerous driving incidents. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car collided with a parked car. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA dark coloured BMW 520/530 drove through a garda checkpoint on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car collided with a parked car in Dr Murphy Place. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe BMW was involved in a hit-and-run in the Midlands. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe car travelled out the Borris Road and into Dr Murphy Place. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe car drove through the checkpoint at about 12.10am on 23 December 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenGardaí ask anyone travelling in the area between 12.10am and 12.30am to get in touch. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at about 12.10am on Sunday 23 December 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationLaois Roads Policing is investigating the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí ask the public to help locate or identify the vehicle and driver. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationLaois Road Protection Unit gardaí are investigating the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí asked the public to help locate or identify the vehicle and driver. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí said the manner of driving was extremely dangerous and reckless. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí described the manner of driving as extremely dangerous and reckless. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Dec2024
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    SHOCKING: BMW drives through garda checkpoint in the Midlands and then is involved in 'number of dangerous driving incidents'

    First report of the incident. Gardaí describe the car's route, a collision with a parked car, and a hit-and-run, and appeal for dash cam footage and information. No driver is identified.

    suspect
  2. 23 Dec2024
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Appeal after BMW drives through garda checkpoint before driving dangerously in Laois

    New case. Gardaí describe the BMW's make and model, the checkpoint, the sequence of dangerous driving, the collision with a parked car, and ask for dash cam footage or information from people in the area between 12.10am and 12.30am.

    suspect