Ireland Man remanded over M7 dangerous driving and hit and run in Portlaoise
On the evening of 17 July 2024, a car is alleged to have driven the wrong way down the M7 Motorway from Junction 15 to Junction 17 in Portlaoise, Laois, following a collision, before being abandoned near Junction 17 with its occupants fleeing into nearby fields. A 45-year-old man, Peter Brazil of Lucan, Dublin, was arrested at Cappakeel, Portlaoise, at 11.55pm that evening after being seen in a taxi. He appeared at Portlaoise District Court on 18 July 2024, where he was charged with 15 offences including nine counts of dangerous driving, hit and run, and criminal damage to a road sign. He made no reply to the charges and was remanded in custody to appear again on 25 July by video link.
- Reported17 Jul
2 reports - Arrested18 Jul
- Chargednot reported
- In court18 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A car is alleged to have driven the wrong way down the M7 from Junction 15 to Junction 17 in Portlaoise following a collision, doing u-turns and forcing gardaí to take evasive action before being abandoned near Junction 17 with occupants fleeing into fields.
- Where
- The incident is alleged to have occurred on the M7 Motorway near Junction 17, Portlaoise, County Laois.
- When
- The incident is alleged to have occurred on the evening of 17 July 2024, between 8pm and 8.30pm.
- Cause
- The wrong-way driving is alleged to have followed a collision.
- Investigation
- A garda helicopter and dog unit were deployed to search for the occupants, and gardaí appealed for dashcam footage and witnesses.
- A man in his mid 40s was seen in a taxi and arrested at Cappakeel, Portlaoise, at 11.55pm on 17 July 2024.
- Charges
- Peter Brazil, 45, of Lucan, Dublin, was charged with 15 offences including nine counts of dangerous driving, no driving licence or insurance, criminal damage to a Laois County Council road sign, and hit and run.
- In court
- He appeared at Portlaoise District Court on 18 July 2024, made no reply to the charges, and gardaí objected to bail.
- He was remanded in custody to appear again on 25 July 2024 by video link.
34 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 garda helicopter was involved in a search for a number of individuals in Portlaoise on Wednesday evening. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatGardaí said they had responded to a car acting dangerously on the motorway earlier in the evening. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatYouths abandoned a car and fled into fields near the Portlaoise Plaza when gardaí went to investigate. (offalyexpress.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, offalyexpress.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 took place on Wednesday evening. (offalyexpress.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)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for information following the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone with dashcam footage or who has witnessed anything suspicious to contact Portlaoise Garda Station. (offalyexpress.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 - 18 Jul2024Garda helicopter involved in search after incident on motorway in the Midlands
Reports a garda helicopter search for several people after a car was abandoned on the motorway at Junction 17 in Portlaoise. Gives the garda appeal contact details. No arrest, charge or name is reported.
suspect - 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