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. 18546Drink driving · Co. Laois · 20 Jan 2024

Driver arrested after single-vehicle crash near Ballaghmore, Laois

A single-vehicle collision happened overnight on 20 January 2024 near Ballaghmore, County Laois, and the car came to rest in a ditch in a field. The driver, who is not named and whose age, sex and nationality are not given, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station, where gardaí said the driver failed a breath test. The driver walked away with only minor scratches. Gardaí reported on 21 January 2024 that the driver has been charged and is due to appear in court at a later date, with no court date given.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged21 Jan
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí arrested a driver after a single-vehicle crash in Laois.
Where
The collision happened near Ballaghmore in County Laois, and the car came to rest in a ditch in a field.
When
The collision happened overnight on 20 January 2024.
Cause
The driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Investigation
The driver was taken to Portlaoise Garda Station and failed the breath test.
Charges
The driver has been charged.
In court
The driver is due to appear in court at a later date, and no court date is given.
Other details
  • The driver walked away with only minor scratches.
  • The driver is not named, and no age, sex or nationality is given.
  • Leinster Express reported the incident on 21 January 2024, citing Gardaí statements.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested a driver following a crash in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe single-vehicle collision happened near Ballaghmore in County Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened overnight. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was taken to Portlaoise Garda Station and failed the breath test. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe driver has been charged. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe driver is due to appear in court at a later date. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe driver walked away with only minor scratches. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jan2024
    Chargedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Driver arrested after car crashes into field in Laois

    First report of this incident. Article is dated 21 January 2024 and says the crash happened 'last night' and 'overnight', so the incident date is inferred as 20 January 2024. The driver is not named, and no age, sex or nationality is given.

    accused