Wednesday 28 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. 6894Dangerous driving · Co. Dublin

Garda narrowly missed by distracted learner driver in Blanchardstown

A Garda member on a clearly marked motorbike in Blanchardstown, north Dublin, was narrowly missed by a motorist who was texting while driving, in an incident earlier in the week of 19 April 2025. The victim is a male Garda member, and the suspect is a motorist whose age, sex and nationality are not given. The motorist was an unaccompanied learner driver with no L-plates displayed and tested positive for cocaine on a roadside drug test after being ordered to pull over. Gardaí shared an image of the vehicle on their Facebook page on 19 April 2025, and no arrest or charge has been reported in the sources.

  1. Reported19 Apr
  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 Garda member was travelling on a clearly marked motorbike wearing full high-visibility kit.
  • The Garda was narrowly missed by the driver of a vehicle.
  • The motorist was texting on a phone while driving.
  • The motorist was an unaccompanied learner driver with no L-plates on display.
  • The motorist tested positive for cocaine on a roadside drug test.
Where
The incident happened while the Garda member was on patrol in Blanchardstown, north Dublin.
When
The incident happened earlier in the week of 19 April 2025.
Cause
Gardaí said the near collision was what can happen when a driver is distracted by looking at a phone, as this driver was.
Investigation
Gardaí caught up with the driver and ordered the vehicle to pull over.
Other details
Gardaí shared an image of the vehicle on their Facebook page and commented on the driver's distraction.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Garda was travelling on a clearly marked motorbike wearing full high-visibility kit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe motorist was texting on their phone while driving. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Garda was only narrowly missed by the driver. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe motorist was an unaccompanied learner with no L-plates on display. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe motorist tested positive for cocaine on a roadside drug test. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred while the Garda member was on patrol in Blanchardstown, north Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened earlier in the week of 19 April 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí shared an image of the motorist's vehicle on their Facebook page. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Apr2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Garda has 'lucky escape' after nearly being run over by motorist 'busy texting'

    Gardaí shared an image of the vehicle on their Facebook page and commented on the driver's distraction while texting.

    victim, malesuspect