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. 1381Driving without insurance, vehicle not roadworthy (road traffic offences) · Co. Laois · 2 Jul 2025

Gardaí seize uninsured Volkswagen with screwdriver as gear stick in Co Laois

A Volkswagen was stopped by the Laois Road Policing Unit on 2 July 2025 in Co Laois. The vehicle was found to be uninsured and not roadworthy, and its gear stick had been replaced with a screwdriver. Gardaí seized the vehicle. The driver, whose name was not given, faces a court appearance for traffic offences.

  1. Reported
  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 Volkswagen was stopped by Gardaí in Co Laois.
  • The vehicle's gear stick had been replaced with a screwdriver.
  • The vehicle was uninsured and not roadworthy.
Where
The incident occurred in Co Laois.
When
The vehicle was stopped on a Wednesday, 2 July 2025.
Investigation
  • The Laois Road Policing Unit was on patrol when they found the vehicle.
  • Gardaí checked the vehicle's details on the Irish Motor Insurance Database and found it uninsured.
  • The vehicle was seized by Gardaí.
In court
The driver faces a court appearance for traffic offences.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe vehicle was a Volkswagen (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe gear stick had been replaced with a screwdriver (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle was uninsured (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle was described as dangerous, illegal and not roadworthy (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred in Co Laois (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe vehicle was stopped on a Wednesday earlier in the week (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe vehicle was seized by Gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Laois Road Policing Unit was on patrol when they found the vehicle (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe driver faces a court appearance for traffic offences (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Jul2025
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    'More DIY than B&Q' - Gardai seize vehicle with screwdriver as a gear stick

    Reports the seizure of a Volkswagen in Co Laois whose gear stick had been replaced with a screwdriver, found uninsured and not roadworthy; driver faces court for traffic offences.

    suspect