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. 18711Dangerous driving · Co. Laois · 5 Jan 2024

Lorry seized after striking railway bridge in Portlaoise

On the afternoon of 5 January 2024, a heavy goods vehicle struck a railway bridge in Portlaoise, County Laois, and delayed train services between Dublin and Cork and between Portlaoise and Ballybrophy. Gardaí arrested the driver, whose age, sex, nationality and name are not given, and charged them with dangerous driving. The lorry was found to have been out of tax for 219 days and was seized. Reports from that day are the latest available, and no court date or sentence has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged5 Jan
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí arrested the driver of a heavy goods vehicle that struck a railway bridge in Portlaoise.
Where
The incident was reported on the Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise, while Gardaí said the bridge was struck on Coote Street.
When
The incident happened on 5 January 2024 in the afternoon.
Investigation
Gardaí were called to the bridge strike, and the vehicle moved away safely before the driver was arrested.
Charges
The driver was arrested and charged with dangerous driving.
Other details
  • The lorry was out of tax for 219 days and was seized.
  • The crash delayed train services between Dublin and Cork and between Portlaoise and Ballybrophy.
  • Irish Rail said the 3pm Hueston to Cork train was delayed by about 35 minutes.
  • Gardaí posted images of the lorry involved in the collision on social media.
  • The driver's age, sex, nationality and name are not given in the sources.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested the driver of a heavy goods vehicle that hit a railway bridge in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened on the Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe heavy goods vehicle struck the railway bridge on Coote Street. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened in the afternoon. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe driver was arrested and charged with dangerous driving. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe lorry was out of tax for 219 days and was seized. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe crash delayed train services between Dublin and Cork and between Portlaoise and Ballybrophy. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherIrish Rail said the 3pm train from Hueston Station in Dublin to Cork was delayed by around 35 minutes. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Jan2024
    Chargedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Gardai seize lorry after Laois railway bridge struck

    Adds that the driver was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, that the lorry was out of tax for 219 days and seized, and that the crash delayed Irish Rail services, including a 3pm Hueston to Cork train by about 35 minutes.

    suspect