Sunday 1 November 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. 11849Drink driving and drug driving · Co. Longford

Man convicted of drink driving and drug driving in Longford

Ciaran O'Reilly, a 22-year-old man from Abbeylara, Longford (reports differ, giving 23), was stopped by Gardaí on multiple occasions between March 2022 and February 2023 on suspicion of drink and drug driving, as well as for learner driving and public order offences. He pleaded guilty at Longford District Court in March 2023 and was fined €800 for the public order and learner driving charges, while the cannabis driving charge was adjourned for prosecution disclosure. In December 2025, he was convicted of the remaining drink and drug driving offences and directed to engage with probation services. The case was adjourned to 3 March 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted8 Dec
  6. Sentenced29 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ciaran O'Reilly, 22 (reports differ: 23), of Abbeylara, Longford, pleaded guilty to multiple driving and public order offences at Longford District Court.
  • He was charged with driving under the influence of cannabis at Rathcroghan, Granard in March 2022, and with drink and drug driving at stops in October 2022 and February 2023.
  • He was charged with non-display of insurance, non-display of L plates, and driving unaccompanied as a learner on 8 May 2022 at Abbeylara.
  • He was charged with public intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour at Market Street, Granard on 18 February 2023.
  • He repeatedly headbutted the Garda van door while being placed in it.
Where
The incidents occurred at Rathcroghan, Abbeylara, Townspark, Ballinalee, and Market Street, Granard, in the Longford area.
When
The driving offences occurred between March 2022 and February 2023.
Cause
Gardaí stopped him for speeding and became suspicious he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Investigation
  • Blood samples from the March 2022 and October 2022 arrests tested positive for drugs, with the October 2022 sample reading 203mg per 100ml against a legal limit of 50mg.
  • In February 2023, he failed a roadside test and a blood test at the garda station was positive for drugs.
In court
In March 2023, the cannabis driving charge was adjourned to 18 April 2023 for prosecution disclosure of evidence.
Sentence
  • In March 2023, fines totalling €800 were imposed for the public order and learner driving offences.
  • In December 2025, he was convicted and directed to engage with probation services, with the case adjourned to 3 March 2026.
Other details
He has between six and nine previous convictions, a consequential disqualification due to penalty points, and 20 hours of community service outstanding on a previous order.
42 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCiaran O'Reilly, 22, of 1 Abbey Court, Abbeylara, Longford, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe defendant repeatedly headbutted the Garda van door while being placed in it. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle's tax disk had expired, there were no L plates on display, and the driver was an unaccompanied learner driver. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatA fixed charge penalty notice was issued for the May 2022 offences but went unpaid. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe defendant has six previous convictions including a no insurance charge from 2020. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe defendant has a consequential disqualification due to the number of penalty points accrued. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe defendant has 20 hours of community service left to complete on a previous order. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatCiaran O'Reilly (22) of 1 Abbey Court, Abbeylara, Longford pleaded guilty to a number of offences at Longford District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe was charged with public intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour at Market Street, Granard on 18 February 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe was charged with non-display of insurance, non-display of L plates, and driving unaccompanied on 8 May 2022 at Abbeylara. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe was charged with driving under the influence of cannabis at Rathcroghan, Granard on 18 March 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe repeatedly headbutted the Garda van door while being placed in it. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle's tax disk had expired, there were no L plates, and he was an unaccompanied learner driver. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatCiaran O'Reilly pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to the offences. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe disturbance occurred at a licence premises on Market Street, Granard. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereGardaí stopped the defendant at Rathcronan, Granard, in March 2022. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe driving offences occurred at 1:25pm on 8 May 2022 at Abbeylara, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenOn 8 May 2022 at 1:25pm, Garda Shane Carr stopped him driving a silver Volkswagen at Abbeylara. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenOfficers observed the defendant make a quick left turn on October 31, 2022, and he was arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí stopped the motorist at Townspark, Longford, on February 8, 2023, at 2pm. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe defendant was stopped for speeding and arrested in Ballinalee on February 22, 2023, on suspicion of drug driving. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí stopped the defendant for driving at speed and became suspicious he was drunk. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA blood sample taken after the March 2022 arrest tested positive for drugs. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA blood sample from the October 2022 arrest gave a reading of 203mg per 100ml. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant had no tax or NCT certificate displayed when stopped in February 2023, failed a roadside test, and a blood test at the garda station was positive for drugs. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe cannabis driving charge at Rathcroghan, Granard was adjourned to 18 April 2023 for prosecution disclosure of evidence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtInspector David Jordan outlined the details of the charges before the court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe cannabis driving charge was adjourned to 18 April 2023 to allow prosecution disclosure of evidence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant was remanded on continuing bail, directed not to drive, and the case was adjourned to March 3, 2026. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Owens imposed a fine of €300 for the threatening and abusive charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceFines of €250 for non-display of insurance and €250 for unaccompanied driving were imposed for the May 8 offences. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceFines totalling €800 were imposed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA fine of €300 was imposed for the threatening and abusive charge, with public intoxication taken into account. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceFines of €250 each were imposed for non-display of insurance and unaccompanied driving, with non-display of L plates taken into consideration. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge may impose 140 hours of community service in lieu of five months in prison if deemed suitable. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant has been directed to engage with probation services. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherA fixed charge penalty notice was issued but went unpaid. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe has six previous convictions including a no insurance charge from 2020. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe has a consequential disqualification due to the number of penalty points accrued. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe has 20 hours of community service left to complete on a previous order. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe legal limit is 50mg. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had nine previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Dec2025
    Convictedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    'Four times over limit' - Drink driver came to Garda attention due to 'speed'

    Reports a guilty plea and the adjournment for a sentencing-related hearing, and sets out the incidents from March 2022 to February 2023 that the case covers.

    convicted, Ciaran O'Reilly, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran O'Reilly
  2. 31 Mar2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Young man in the Midlands who repeatedly headbutted garda van door fined for a number of offences

    Details the sentencing for multiple charges across three incidents; the cannabis driving charge from the March 2022 Rathcroghan stop (same incident as case 11849) was adjourned to 18 April 2023 for prosecution disclosure of evidence.

    convicted, Ciaran O'Reilly, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran O'Reilly
  3. 29 Mar2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford man who repeatedly headbutted garda van door hit with €800 of fines

    Details the sentencing for the public intoxication, threatening/abusive behaviour, and May 2022 driving offences; the cannabis driving charge at Rathcroghan (same incident as case 11849) was adjourned to 18 April 2023 for prosecution disclosure. Reveals the defendant has six previous convictions and a consequential disqualification.

    accused, Ciaran O'Reilly, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran O'Reilly