Ireland Case No. 15652Drug driving · Co. Laois · 9 Oct 2023
Man convicted of drug driving after Mountmellick checkpoint
On 9 October 2023, Jonathan Walsh, a 42-year-old man of Kilkenny, was driving a 231D registered van when he was approached at a Garda checkpoint at The Rock, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, at about 10.50pm. A drug reading 45 times the legal limit was recorded, and he was arrested on suspicion of drug driving at 11.20pm. At Portlaoise District Court, reported on 25 October 2024, he was convicted of drug driving in his absence, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest and sentencing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted25 Oct
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jonathan Walsh, a 42-year-old man of Kilkenny, was driving a 231D registered van.
- The van stopped before the checkpoint and reversed into a driveway.
- Where
- The incident took place at The Rock, Mountmellick, Co. Laois.
- When
- The incident took place on 9 October 2023, when the checkpoint was operating at 10.50pm.
- Cause
- The man told gardaí that he had taken cocaine that day and did not think it would show up on the test.
- Investigation
- A drug swab given by the man tested positive for cocaine, and a blood sample taken at Portlaoise Garda Station gave a positive certificate for cocaine.
- The drug reading was 45 times the legal limit, and the man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving at 11.20pm.
- The man was compliant with gardaí at all times.
- In court
- The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court, where the judge was shown a copy of the certificate from the drug sample.
- The man was not present at the hearing, and he was convicted of drug driving.
- Sentence
- A bench warrant was issued for the man's arrest and sentencing.
- Other details
- The man told gardaí he was looking for somewhere to sleep.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man was driving a 231D registered van. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe van stopped before the checkpoint and reversed into a driveway. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe drug reading was 45 times the legal limit. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe man was approached at The Rock, Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 9 October 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe checkpoint was operating at 10.50pm on the night in question. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe man admitted to gardaí that he had taken cocaine that day. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA drug swab given by the man tested positive for cocaine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving at 11.20pm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA blood sample was taken at Portlaoise Garda Station and a certificate showed a positive reading for cocaine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe man was compliant with gardaí at all times. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge was shown a copy of the certificate from the drug sample. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe man was not present at the hearing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe man was convicted of drug driving. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceA bench warrant was issued for the man's arrest and sentencing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe man told gardaí he was looking for somewhere to sleep. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Oct2024Garda in ‘disbelief’ at driving of man who was 45 times the drug limit in Laois
First report of this case. It is a court report from Portlaoise District Court on the conviction and the bench warrant issued for sentencing.
convicted, Jonathan Walsh, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Walsh