Ireland Man appears in court over dangerous driving and hit and run on M7 in Laois
On 17 July 2024, a car with several occupants was driven the wrong way on the M7 motorway in Portlaoise, Co Laois, between Junctions 15 and 17 after a collision at around 8pm, and it was abandoned near Junction 17, where its occupants fled into fields. Gardaí arrested Peter Brazil (45), of Lucan, Dublin, at Cappakeel, Portlaoise, at 11.55pm that Wednesday, and he is accused of 15 offences, including nine counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage and hit and run. On 18 July at Portlaoise District Court, gardaí objected to bail, the defence said he consented to remand in custody, and he was remanded in custody to appear again by video link on 25 July.
- Reported17 Jul
- Arrested18 Jul
- Chargednot reported
- In court18 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A car with a number of occupants was driven the wrong way on the M7 motorway in Laois after a collision.
- The car did a u-turn and forced gardaí to take evasive action, then was abandoned near Junction 17, and its occupants fled into nearby fields.
- Where
- The incident happened on the M7 motorway in Portlaoise, between Junction 15 and Junction 17.
- When
- The incident happened on Wednesday 17 July 2024, at around 8pm, between 8pm and 8.30pm.
- Cause
- The wrong-way driving followed a collision.
- Investigation
- Gardaí deployed a garda dog unit and helicopter to search for the occupants and appealed for dashcam footage and witnesses.
- Sources differ on the arrest: one says gardaí arrested the man at Cappakeel at 11.55pm, another says a man was seen in a taxi, arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station.
- Charges
- Peter Brazil (45), of Lucan, Dublin, is accused of nine counts of dangerous driving on the M7 and of having no driving licence or insurance at Togher.
- He is accused of criminal damage to a Laois County Council road sign at Cappakeel and of hit and run at Cappakeel, failing to remain at the scene and report an accident.
- He made no reply when charged with 15 offences.
- In court
- Gardaí objected to bail at Portlaoise District Court on 18 July 2024.
- The defence said the accused consented to remand in custody, and legal aid was granted.
- He was remanded in custody to appear again on 25 July by video link.
- Other details
- The alleged offences are not yet proven and no plea has been entered.
28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí said they had responded to a car acting dangerously on the motorway earlier that evening. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatWhen gardaí went to investigate, a number of youths abandoned a car and fled into fields near the Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA car was driven the wrong way down the motorway in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe car did a u-turn and forced gardaí to take evasive action on the motorway. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe car was abandoned near Junction 17 and its occupants fled into nearby fields. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident happened near Junction 17 on the motorway in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe car drove the wrong way on the M7 from Junction 15 to Junction 17. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident was alleged to have happened on the M7 Motorway in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on Wednesday evening. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred between 8pm and 8.30pm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe alleged dangerous driving occurred on 17 July 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeThe wrong-way driving followed a collision. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA garda helicopter was involved in a search for a number of individuals in Portlaoise that evening. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed to anyone with dashcam footage or who witnessed anything suspicious to contact Portlaoise Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA garda dog unit and garda helicopter were deployed to locate the occupants. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for video or dashcam footage and witnesses. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested the man at Cappakeel, Portlaoise, at 11.55pm on the Wednesday. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe accused was charged with dangerous driving, criminal damage and hit and run. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of nine counts of dangerous driving on the M7. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of having no driving licence or insurance on the M7 at Togher. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of causing criminal damage to a Laois County Council road sign at Cappakeel. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of hit and run at Cappakeel, failing to remain at the scene and failing to report an accident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe defendant made no reply when charged with 15 offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtGardaí objected to bail. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe defence counsel said the accused consented to a remand in custody. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted and the defendant was remanded in custody to appear again on July 25 by video link. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherA suspect was seen in a taxi, arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe arrested man is in his mid 40s and is being held for questioning. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Jul2024Man appears in court accused of hit and run and dangerous driving on M7 Motorway in Laois
Reports a court appearance at Portlaoise District Court, where the accused faced 15 charges and was remanded in custody to July 25.
accused, Peter Brazil, 45, male, namedPeter Brazil - 18 Jul2024Man arrested after car driven wrong way down motorway in Laois
Adds the wrong-way driving account on the M7 between Junctions 15 and 17, the u-turns, the abandoned car, the garda search, and the arrest in a taxi of a man in his mid 40s. Gives no name and no charge.
suspect, mid 40s, male - 17 Jul2024Garda helicopter involved in search after incident on motorway in Laois
Adds that a garda helicopter searched for a number of individuals after the car was abandoned near Junction 17 and the youths fled into fields, and that gardaí appealed for dashcam footage and witnesses. No names, arrests or charges are given. Matched to existing case 16580 on date, place and dangerous driving on the motorway, but the article describes youths fleeing while that case names one 45-year-old man, so the link is probable rather than certain.
suspect