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. 19330Drug driving · Co. Laois

Laois driver arrested after cannabis smoking and failed roadside drug test

Gardaí in Laois say they stopped a man driving a van during a Bank holiday weekend operation by the Laois Roads Policing unit, and that he was smoking cannabis at the time. He failed a roadside drug test, was arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda station, where a blood specimen was taken, and a small quantity of cannabis herb was recovered. The van was found to have no valid tax or certificate of roadworthiness and was seized. The latest reported development is the seizure of the vehicle, reported on 29 October 2023, and no charge or court date has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested29 Oct
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí say a man was smoking cannabis while driving a van.
Where
The stop took place in Laois, and the driver was taken to Portlaoise Garda station.
When
The stop was made during the Laois Roads Policing unit's Bank holiday weekend operation, and the report was published on 29 October 2023.
Cause
Gardaí say the driver was stopped and the van was found to have no valid tax or certificate of roadworthiness.
Investigation
  • The man failed a roadside drug test and was arrested.
  • A blood specimen was taken from the man at Portlaoise Garda station.
  • A small quantity of cannabis herb was recovered.
Other details
  • The van's tax was out for 330 days.
  • The vehicle was seized.
Charges
No charge against the man is reported in the sources.
In court
No court proceedings are reported in the sources.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe driver was smoking cannabis while driving a van. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe driver failed the roadside drug test. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda station, where a blood specimen was taken. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationA small quantity of cannabis herb was recovered. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe van was found to have no tax or valid certificate of roadworthiness. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe driver's tax was out 330 days. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe stop was made during the Laois Roads Policing unit's Bank holiday weekend operation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe vehicle was seized. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Oct2023
    Arrestedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois gardai say driver was smoking cannabis when stopped

    Gardaí said the stop was part of the Laois Roads Policing unit's Bank holiday weekend operation; the driver failed a roadside drug test, gave a blood specimen at Portlaoise Garda station, and a small quantity of cannabis herb was recovered.

    suspect, male