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. 19355Dangerous driving · Co. Dublin · 22 Mar 2021

Man acquitted of dangerous driving after no-hands M50 drive

On 22 March 2021, gardaí stopped Noel Bourke, a 37-year-old man from Castleknock, Dublin, on the M50 motorway after seeing his Tesla driven with no hands on the wheel. Bourke was charged with dangerous driving and pleaded not guilty, saying the car's autopilot was engaged and he was monitoring it. The case was contested before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court. On 26 October 2023, Bourke was acquitted, with the judge finding no direct risk to other people.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted26 Oct
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Noel Bourke, 37, was stopped while driving a Tesla with his arms folded and no hands on the steering wheel.
Where
The stop took place on the M50 motorway in Dublin, northbound near the Ballymun junction.
When
The stop happened on the afternoon of 22 March 2021, when a garda saw the car at 2.05pm.
Investigation
  • Garda Colin McCluskey, driving with a colleague, saw the driver's arms folded high across his chest.
  • Gardaí pulled Bourke over, and he said he was using the autopilot system.
  • The garda cautioned Bourke not to drive without his hands on the steering wheel.
Cause
The defence accepted that Bourke was driving with no hands.
Charges
Bourke was charged with dangerous driving and pleaded not guilty.
In court
  • The case was contested before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court.
  • The judge found Bourke truthful and accepted that he was monitoring the autopilot.
  • The judge held that there was no direct risk to other people.
  • Bourke was acquitted of dangerous driving, as reported on 26 October 2023.
Other details
Bourke testified that he was monitoring the car's autopilot driver assistant system.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereBourke was pulled over by gardaí on the M50 motorway. (rte.ie)
  • whenHe was stopped on the afternoon of 22 March 2021. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe defence accepted he was driving with no hands. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA garda noticed the Tesla at 2.05pm heading northbound near the Ballymun junction. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe garda saw the driver's arms folded high across his chest. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí pulled him over and he said he was using autopilot. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe garda cautioned Bourke not to drive without his hands on the steering wheel. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBourke was cleared of dangerous driving. (rte.ie)
  • courtBourke pleaded not guilty. (rte.ie)
  • courtBourke was acquitted following a contested hearing before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge held there was no direct risk to other people. (rte.ie)
  • otherBourke testified that he was monitoring the autopilot system. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge found Bourke truthful and accepted he was monitoring the autopilot. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Oct2023
    Acquittedrte.ie, first report
    Man who drove arms folded cleared of dangerous driving

    Reports the acquittal of Noel Bourke after a contested hearing at Dublin District Court, including the defence account of the autopilot system and the judge's finding of no direct risk to other people.

    accused, Noel Bourke, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Bourke