Thursday 29 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. 8907Driving without insurance · Co. Laois · 13 Jan 2026

Man fined €500 for driving without insurance in Laois

On 13 January 2026, gardaí stopped a silver Skoda car at Ballykilcavan, Laois. Damien Wyse, 45, of Castledermot, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Portlaoise District Court to driving without insurance, and the court heard that the insurance disc had expired on 21 February 2025. Judge Edward Carroll accepted the failure was an oversight and fined Wyse €500 without disqualifying him from driving. The latest development, reported on 28 June 2026, is that sentence was imposed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Damien Wyse, 45, of Castledermot, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.
Where
The offence took place at Ballykilcavan, Laois.
When
The offence took place on 13 January 2026.
Investigation
  • Gardaí stopped a silver Skoda car on 13 January 2026.
  • Garda Niamh Bergin said the insurance disc on the car had expired on 21 February 2025.
  • The insurance company confirmed the policy had not been renewed.
Cause
The defence said Wyse's wife overlooked renewing the insurance policy.
Other details
  • The defence said Wyse had been driving without insurance for about 12 months.
  • A certificate of insurance was taken out the day after the stop.
  • Wyse had no previous convictions.
In court
The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court, where Judge Edward Carroll accepted the failure was an oversight.
Sentence
  • Judge Edward Carroll fined Wyse €500.
  • Judge Edward Carroll did not disqualify Wyse from driving.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDamien Wyse pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at Ballykilcavan, Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on January 13, 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí stopped a silver Skoda car on January 13. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe insurance disc on the car had expired on February 21, 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe insurance company confirmed the policy had not been renewed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Edward Carroll accepted the failure was an oversight. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fined the man €500. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge did not disqualify the man from driving. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the wife overlooked renewing the insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the man had been driving without insurance for 12 months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA certificate of insurance was taken out the day after the stop. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jun2026
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Court told wife overlooked policy renewal of uninsured driver stopped in Laois

    Reports the guilty plea, the garda evidence, the defence account that his wife overlooked the renewal, and the €500 fine with no disqualification.

    convicted, Damien Wyse, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Damien Wyse