Sunday 1 November 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. 21303Dangerous driving · Co. Laois · 1 Mar 2023

Disqualified driver sentenced over high-speed chase in Laois

On 1 March 2023, Patrick Palmer, 30, of Mount Salem, Coolrain, Mountrath, was spotted holding a mobile phone while driving on Fr Brown Avenue in Portlaoise, and gardaí pursued his vehicle at speeds over 140km/h, overtaking dangerously, from Portlaoise into the Slieve Blooms Mountains. The pursuit ended in Monicknew when the vehicle rolled into a ditch and he was arrested. He was charged with drug possession, dangerous driving, having no insurance or licence, and driving while intoxicated, and he admitted a number of offences. Reports published on 28 April and 1 May 2023 say he was sentenced to six months for intoxicated driving with a 20-year disqualification, and to six months with a 10-year driving ban for having no insurance, with the sentences running concurrently and recognisance fixed in case of appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Patrick Palmer, 30, of Mount Salem, Coolrain, Mountrath, is the man named in the case.
Where
  • The driver was first spotted on Fr Brown Avenue in Portlaoise, Laois.
  • The chase went from Portlaoise into the Slieve Blooms Mountains and ended in Monicknew.
When
The incident took place on 1 March 2023.
Cause
The driver was seen holding a mobile phone while driving and failed to stop for gardaí.
Investigation
  • Gardaí pursued the vehicle, which was driven at speeds in excess of 140km/h and overtook dangerously.
  • The vehicle crashed, rolled into a ditch, and the driver was arrested.
  • The driver tested positive for drugs with a reading of 8.2mg per 100ml, and about €30 worth of cannabis was found.
  • Gardaí found the driver had been disqualified from driving for six years in 2021.
Charges
The driver was charged with drug possession, dangerous driving, having no insurance or licence, and driving while intoxicated.
In court
  • The driver admitted a number of offences arising from the incident, and the defence asked the court to take his early guilty plea into account.
  • Gardaí said the driver has 27 previous convictions, including five for no insurance.
Sentence
  • He was sentenced to six months for intoxicated driving with a 20-year driving disqualification.
  • He was sentenced to six months with a 10-year driving ban for having no insurance, with the sentences running concurrently.
  • Recognisance was fixed in case of appeal, and the judge took the remaining matters into consideration.
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe driver was first spotted on Fr Brown Avenue in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe pursuit ended in Monicknew when the vehicle crashed. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe chase went from Portlaoise into the Slieve Blooms Mountains. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences arose from an incident on 1 March 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 1 March 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe driver was spotted holding a mobile phone while driving. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe driver was seen holding a mobile phone while driving on Fr Brown Avenue in Portlaoise, and gardaí pursued the vehicle. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí pursued the vehicle, which was driven at speeds in excess of 140km and overtook dangerously. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe vehicle rolled into a ditch and the driver was arrested. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationCannabis worth €30 was found. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe driver tested positive for drugs with a reading of 8.2mgs per 100mls. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found the driver had been disqualified from driving for six years in 2021. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationAbout €30 worth of cannabis was found. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe driver was charged with drug possession, dangerous driving, having no insurance or licence, and driving while intoxicated. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant admitted a number of offences arising from the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant has 27 previous convictions, including five for no insurance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe driver admitted a number of offences arising from the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defence asked the court to take into account the driver's early guilty plea. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA six-month sentence was imposed for intoxicated driving, with a 20-year disqualification. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA six-month sentence with a 10-year driving ban was imposed for having no insurance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentences were imposed concurrently. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceRecognisance was fixed in case of appeal. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA six-month sentence was imposed for intoxicated driving, with a 20-year driving disqualification. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe same sentence was imposed for not having insurance, with a six-month sentence and a 10-year driving ban for having no insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge took the remaining matters into consideration. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe driver continued at speeds over 140km/h and overtook dangerously during the pursuit. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe garda said the defendant had 27 previous convictions, including five for no insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the driver was over eight times the legal limit. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 May2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Drug driver led Gardai on high speed chase through Slieve Blooms in Laois

    Reports the court appearance where Patrick Palmer admitted the offences and was sentenced, including the drug-driving reading, the disqualification and the sentences imposed.

    convicted, Patrick Palmer, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Palmer
  2. 1 May2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Prison sentence for drug driver who led Gardai on high speed chase into Slieve Bloom Mountains

    Court report on the sentencing of Patrick Palmer. It adds the sentence, the charges, the drug and disqualification details, and the chase route, which ended at Monicknew after his vehicle crashed.

    convicted, Patrick Palmer, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Palmer