Saturday 31 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. 19702Hit-and-run · Co. Laois · 25 Sep 2023

Appeal for information after cyclist struck by van at M7 Junction 17 Portlaoise

On Monday 25 September 2023 at around 5.30pm, a female cyclist was struck by a white van on the off ramp of the M7 at Junction 17 in Portlaoise, Co Laois, and the van did not remain at the scene. The reports do not give the cyclist's name or age, and the van driver has not been identified. Gardaí at Portlaoise appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage on 26 and 27 September 2023, and no arrest or charge in the collision has been reported. Separately, a car was seized and a fixed charge notice issued to a learner permit holder after a traffic stop in Portlaoise reported on 27 September 2023, which the reports do not link to the collision. The latest development is that the appeal for information was still open on 27 September 2023.

  1. Reported26 Sep
    2 reports
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged27 Sep
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A female cyclist was struck by a white van.
  • Separately, a car was seized after a Laois Roads Policing Unit stop in Portlaoise for failing to stop for pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing.
Where
The collision happened on the off ramp of the M7 at Junction 17, Portlaoise, Co Laois.
When
  • The collision happened on Monday 25 September 2023 at around 5.30pm.
  • The reports differ on when that stop happened: Leinster Express says 27 September 2023 ('today'), and Offaly Express says 'this week'.
Other details
  • The van did not remain at the scene.
  • The cyclist's name and age and the van driver's identity are not given in the reports.
  • The driver of that car was a learner permit holder driving unaccompanied without L-plates displayed.
  • The reports do not link the car stop to the cyclist collision.
Investigation
  • Gardaí appealed on 26 and 27 September 2023 for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage from the area.
  • Anyone with information can contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100.
  • No suspect, arrest or charge in the collision has been reported.
Charges
The car was seized and a fixed charge notice was issued to its driver.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA female cyclist was struck by a white van. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí in Laois seized a car after uncovering several offences during a routine traffic stop. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe driver had failed to stop for pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA cyclist was struck by a van. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe cyclist was a woman. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe white van did not remain at the scene. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA car was seized from a driver who failed to stop for pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened on the off ramp of the M7 at Junction 17 Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe Laois Roads Policing Unit was on patrol in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place on the off ramp of the M7 at Junction 17 Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened on Monday at around 5.30pm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at around 5.30pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage from the area. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information can contact Portlaoise Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found the driver was a learner permit holder driving unaccompanied without L-plates displayed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and for anyone with dashcam footage from the area. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information can contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí discovered further offences when they stopped the car after noticing it had not yielded to pedestrians. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe vehicle was seized and a fixed charge notice was issued to the driver. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe van did not remain at the scene. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe driver was a learner permit holder driving unaccompanied without L-plates displayed. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Sep2023
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Laois Gardai say seized car didn't stop pedestrian crossing

    Adds that the driver was a learner permit holder driving unaccompanied without L-plates, and that a fixed charge notice was issued. The source is a Garda social media post.

    suspect
  2. 27 Sep2023
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Gardai issue appeal after cyclist knocked down in hit and run near motorway in the Midlands

    First report of the incident. Gives the location, time and an appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage. No victim name, suspect or arrest is given.

    victim, female
  3. 27 Sep2023
    Chargedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí seize car in Midlands after driver fails to stop for pedestrians at crossing

    Reports one traffic stop in Portlaoise: the car was seized and a fixed charge notice issued to the learner driver. Gives no date for the incident beyond 'this week'.

    suspect
  4. 26 Sep2023
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Portlaoise Gardai issue appeal after cyclist knocked down

    Adds that the van was white, gives the exact location as the off ramp of the M7 at Junction 17, and records gardaí's appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage with a contact number. No suspect, arrest or charge is reported.

    victim, female