Thursday 29 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. 9429Speeding · Co. Kildare

High Court quashes judge's refusal to convict 34 speeding drivers in Laois

Thirty-four drivers were prosecuted for speeding on a road at Clogheen near Monasterevin, Co Kildare, after receiving Fixed Charge Notices that were not paid. In December 2024 Portlaoise District Court judge Andrew Cody found the speeding facts proven but refused to convict the 34 drivers. The Director of Public Prosecutions asked the High Court to judicially review and quash those orders, and on May 21, 2026 Mr Justice Cian Ferriter overturned the refusal, holding that once speeding was proven the judge was obliged to convict. The DPP did not seek to have the matters sent back to the District Court, and the ruling was reported on May 25, 2026.

  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
The High Court overturned a District Court refusal to convict 34 drivers for speeding offences.
Where
The speeding offences arose from a stretch of road at Clogheen near Monasterevin in Co Kildare, on the Laois Kildare border.
When
The High Court ruling was made on May 21, 2026, and reported on May 25, 2026.
Cause
The drivers received Fixed Charge Notices, and the cases came to court after the notices were not paid.
Weapon
The speeding was detected by GoSafe speed detection vans.
In court
  • In December 2024 the District Court judge, Andrew Cody, found the speeding facts proven but refused to convict 34 drivers.
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions asked the High Court to judicially review and quash the District Court orders.
  • Mr Justice Cian Ferriter made the High Court ruling.
Other details
  • The High Court held that once speeding was proven, the District Judge was obliged to convict.
  • The District Court judge had said Kildare County Council was in dereliction of their duties to the citizens of Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
Sentence
The DPP did not seek to have the speeding matters sent back to the District Court.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe High Court overturned a District Court refusal to convict 34 drivers for speeding offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe speeding offences arose from a stretch of road at Clogheen near Monasterevin in Co Kildare. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe High Court ruling was made on May 21. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe drivers received Fixed Charge Notices, and the cases came to court after the notices were not paid. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions asked the High Court to judicially review and quash the District Court orders. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtIn December 2024 the District Court judge found the speeding facts proven but refused to convict 34 people. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe DPP did not seek to have the speeding matters sent back to the District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe High Court held that once speeding was proven, the District Judge was obliged to convict. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 May2026
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois judge's refusal to convict speeding drivers in Portlaoise Court quashed

    Reports the High Court's May 2026 ruling quashing the District Court's December 2024 refusal to convict 34 drivers. The article covers the legal ruling and the judge's conduct, not new arrests or charges.