Friday 30 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. 13707Harassment and intimate image offences · Co. Laois

Man accused of harassment and threatening to publish intimate images appears in Portlaoise court

A 15-year-old boy (reported as 14 in one article) from Laois is accused of a series of car thefts, criminal damage and related offences between December 2023 and June 2024, including unlawful takings of cars in Portlaoise, Kilminchy and Kildare and threatening behaviour in Mountrath. He appeared before Portlaoise District Court, where Judge Andrew Cody adjourned two charges to 11 December with a warning and he was remanded on bail. A 16 May 2025 report says he was sentenced to six months' detention in Oberstown and disqualified from driving for five years, while an 18 May 2025 report says he was on bail with sentencing set for 26 June.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 May
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A boy reported as 15 in one article and 14 in another is accused of car thefts and related offences in Laois and surrounding counties.
  • He is accused of unlawfully taking cars, causing criminal damage, threatening and abusive behaviour, and refusing to give his name to gardaí.
  • One car was damaged at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise by crashing it into a barrier on 15 December 2023.
Where
The alleged offences took place in Portlaoise, Kilminchy, Kildare town, Mountrath and Laois and surrounding counties.
When
One key fact says the offences took place between mid-December 2023 and the end of February 2024, but the listed charges are dated from 20 January to 20 June 2024.
Cause
The offences involved thefts of cars for joyriding.
Charges
  • He is accused of unlawfully taking cars on 20 January 2024 at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, on 20 February 2024 in Kilminchy and on 23 March 2024 at Stradbally Road, Portlaoise.
  • He is accused of criminal damage at Priory Court, Kildare town, on 25 February 2024, and of threatening and abusive behaviour and refusing to give his name to gardaí in Mountrath on 20 June 2024.
In court
  • The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court before Judge Andrew Cody, who said he had seen probation and psychological reports and a letter from the boy.
  • Two charges were adjourned to 11 December with a warning of nine months' detention if he offended again, and legal aid was granted.
  • Bail pending appeal was refused, and bail had been revoked two days before sentencing.
  • One report says he was remanded on bail with strict conditions to appear for sentencing on 26 June, while another says he was placed in Oberstown Detention Centre after spending two nights there.
Sentence
  • He was sentenced to six months' detention for unlawfully taking a car in Kildare in February 2024, with a further one month concurrent for a second car theft.
  • He was disqualified from driving for five years, and charges other than the two most recent were taken into consideration.
  • With a quarter off for good behaviour, he was expected to be released by early September.
Other details
The offences caused a large amount of material damage, and no compensation was available.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to a number of offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA car was damaged at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise by crashing it into a barrier on December 15, 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA 14-year-old boy is accused of car thefts in Laois and surrounding counties. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place between mid December 2023 and the end of February 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe offences involved thefts of cars for joyriding. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of unlawfully taking a car at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise on 20 January 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of unlawfully taking a car in Kilminchy on 20 February 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of unlawfully taking a car at Stradbally Road, Portlaoise, on 23 March 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of causing criminal damage at Priory Court, Kildare town, on 25 February 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of threatening and abusive behaviour and refusing to give his name to gardaí in Mountrath on 20 June 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtTwo charges were adjourned to December 11 with a warning of nine months detention if he offended again. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said there was no option but to sentence the boy to detention. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted and bail pending appeal was refused. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded on bail with strict conditions to appear before Portlaoise District Court on 26 June for sentencing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe boy was sentenced to six months in detention for the unlawful taking of a car in Kildare in February 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe boy was disqualified from driving for five years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA further one month concurrent detention was imposed for a second car theft. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceRemaining charges were taken into consideration, except the two most recent. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceWith a quarter off for good behaviour, the boy was expected to be released by early September. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe offences caused a large amount of material damage and no compensation was available. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherBail had been revoked two days before the sentencing. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 May2025
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Teen accused of car thefts in Laois

    Court appearance of a 14-year-old on bail over multiple alleged offences from 2024, including car takings, criminal damage, threatening behaviour and refusing to give his name to gardaí. Sentencing is set for 26 June.

    accused, 14, male
  2. 16 May2025
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Laois teenager in court over car thefts

    Reports the sentencing: detention in Oberstown, a five-year driving disqualification, the court's reasons, and the details of a series of car thefts and damage offences between December 2023 and February 2024.

    convicted, 15, male